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The Perfect Date in Quarantine: Virtual Wine Dinner from The New Standard

By Christina Thomas Leave a Comment

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.

The New Standard and Tim’s Wine Market Rescue Date Night!

Enjoying a memorable date night in quarantine can be a bit challenging. Every day seems like a Groundhog’s Day version of the previous one. And ordering restaurant take out is now part of the routine. As a result, you have to put in a bit of extra effort and creativity to turn another night at home into a “Perfect Date.”

Thankfully, The New Standard and Tim’s Wine Market came to the rescue of 35 Orlando area couples with their first Virtual Wine Dinner. All the work was done for us. The result: a truly epic, dare I say “Perfect Date” night!

But, it was not without interesting challenges. Read on and find out how this perfect date night all came together and why you don’t want to miss the next Virtual Wine Dinner!

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Charcuterie and Cheese Board perfectly plated by Go Epicurista! Don’t you think?
Tim Varan from Tim’s Wine Market looks like he approves!

Any Night Can Be a Perfect Date Night!

The “Perfect Date” was Friday April 17th, 2020. Not April 25th for Miss Congeniality fans. It was “not too hot, not too cold” in Orlando that night but I didn’t need a light a jacket. In fact we could have worn our PJs. We opted instead to get out of our current daily “uniform” and dress up. The Lord knows we have not done that in weeks! (I even put on makeup!)

And a three course expertly prepared dinner with perfectly paired wines was definitely the way to step up our ho-hum take out and create a special occasion.

Wine dinners are inherently social affairs, where part of the charm is being able to chat with fellow wine lovers, hear from the chef and learn from an expert sommelier or wine maker. However, having a similar restaurant-like experience while in the comfort of your own home, had its own unique charm.

How The Virtual Wine Dinner Works

If you’re wondering how this whole Virtual Wine Dinner thing worked out, you’re not alone. I was quite intrigued how they would pull it off. There’s a lot of moving parts behind the scenes. But we never saw that. The whole process was easy and well organized.

First, RSVP over the phone with Tim’s Wine Market by the order date deadline (a few days prior). Then pick up your food and wine at The New Standard restaurant during the pick up window, the day of event between 4pm-6pm. Some items were finished once we arrived to ensure maximum quality, so plan to have a few minutes wait once you arrive.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
The New Standard General Manager, Erin Shay and Tim’s Wine Market owner, Tim Varan were on hand with friendly smiles from a safe distance as we picked up our order.

The food was nicely packaged to travel. It held up quite well even with a 45 minute drive from the restaurant to our home.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
My delivery guy is really cute! (wink wink)

We made an effort and set up our table with white linens and cloth napkins. Pulled out the nice plates and polished our Riedel wine glasses. You certainly don’t need to do that. However, it added to the ambiance and made the night feel more special.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Our table is set and the YouTube video is cued up!

Easy plating and re-heating instructions were provided. The first course simply needed plating. The second course required us to slice the tomatoes and plate. It was fun to attempt our very best restaurant style plating. How do you think we did?

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Easy instructions to follow for a restaurant-quality virtual wine dinner at home.

The wine was decanted, as recommended. And we tuned in to Tim’s Wine Market YouTube channel for a short pre-recorded video where Tim Varan, owner of Tim’s Wine Market and Chef Ryan McLaughlin of The New Standard introduced each course and wine pairing.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Decanting the red wine was the first thing on our Virtual Wine Dinner to do list. At least half an hour or longer, we waited a few hours and it was perfect!

At 7pm, we tuned in to Facebook and Instagram LIVE to taste along with Tim and Lonnie from Tim’s Wine Market and Chef Ryan and GM Erin Shay from The New Standard. It was a casual way to chat and they shared their thoughts on the pairings and answered our questions.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
On Instagram Live you can see everyone on the Live feed. On Facebook Live we could only see Tim Varan but could hear everyone else. If you have a smart TV, cast your phone to your TV and watch on the big screen.

Dine at Your Own Pace!

One of the nice aspects of the virtual wine dinner experience at home vs. being in the restaurant was being able to dine at our own pace. Due to the distance from the restaurant to our house, we didn’t get the food home until almost 7pm; just in time for the Live broadcast. We watched as we were plating, sipping the first wine (and taking photos.) And didn’t sit down to eat until about 8:30pm.

And, here’s the best part. As you may know from your own take out fails, not all restaurant food travels and reheats well. This is a big challenge right now as all restaurants compete for our take out dollars. Chef Ryan did an outstanding job of preparing a menu that would travel and reheat well. Allowing us to enjoy a restaurant quality hot meal, hours later!

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Everything was nicely packaged individually by course. Easy to Plate!

The Chef’s Challenges of a Virtual Wine Dinner During Covid-19

I asked Chef Ryan McLaughlin about the challenges of putting together his first virtual wine dinner. After all, this seems historic from a foodie perspective!

The chef’s first criteria when devising the menu was “what would travel well without compromising the integrity of the food. What could be easily assembled, reheated or keep well for a day, if those ordering wanted to wait until Saturday to enjoy the dinner.” says McLaughlin.

“Packaging was also another thing that we’re always thinking about these days.  Prior to the pandemic we weren’t set up for delivery, and take out orders were minimal.  That being said, we learned pretty quickly about take out containers and what worked best.”  he says.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Providing the whole tomatoes was genius! These delicate heirlooms would not have traveled well had they been sliced in the restaurant. We even got a high quality extra virgin olive oil to drizzle on the salad. EVERYTHING was provided! (Well, except for salt and pepper but I think we can all manage that part!)

Giving instructions to diners on how to put the food together once they got home was another challenge. Let’s face it. Not everyone has the affinity or skill in the kitchen. For this reason,  the chef put every course together how he would serve it in the restaurant and showcased it in the introduction video. The instructions of what to do for each course were also simple and straightforward.  

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
The main course short rib was sealed in a plastic bag which was easy to drop in a pot of hot water to heat when we were ready to eat. The Sunchoke and peas were popped in the microwave and ready in seconds.

The last challenge we can all relate to if we’ve been to a grocery store in the past four weeks is the availability of certain ingredients. “It’s becoming slightly more difficult to get certain items each day,” says McLaughlin. “But we’ve been following everything going on and staying informed, so we know what we can get and what may be a little harder to get.” 

I say “Kudos!” to Chef Ryan and his team. They managed through these challenges for a successful new kind of event in these challenging times.

Who knows, but this may become the new normal!

The Wine Connoisseur’s Challenges of hosting a Virtual Wine Dinner during Covid-19

There were challenges as well from a wine pairing perspective. Typically during a wine dinner in a restaurant, you get to sample a different wine with each course. And, that usually involves a smaller pour, which in turn helps keep the cost down. For a virtual three course dinner at home, it was not feasible to include three bottles of wine. Both from a cost perspective as well as over-consumption. Although I bet some would have been up to that challenge! Thus selecting one wine to pair with more than one course was key. Tim did beautifully with the 2016 Chanzy Bouzeron Aligote “Les Trois.”

Another challenge as mentioned above was how to provide the social and educational component of a wine dinner in a virtual environment. “The ability to interact with customers and explain the pairings and what makes them unique.” says Tim Varan, owner of Tim’s Wine Market. Since his first wine store opened on Orange Avenue in 1995, he and his knowledgeable staff have educated thousands of people on the merits of artisan made wines.

His solution to counteract the fact we were not chatting face to face, was engaging the customers through a detailed write up of the wines, an introduction video on YouTube and the live chat on Instagram and Facebook. (you can take a look here to get an idea!)

“Based on the comments we received on Insta and FB I think we really hit.  We also had to rush to produce the video. A Herculean task by my nephew Lee Pancake, to deliver in less than 24 hours and make it look professional.”  

Technology can be a challenge all on its own, even in the best of times. Doing a live feed for the first time with no idea what you’re doing is nerve-wrecking. Thankfully Tim had his daughter, a PR firm pro, to give him pointers and help out with the video while he was live.

I agree Tim and his “crew” did a fabulous job! We learned a great deal about the wines and enjoyed having him (with his family in the background) discussing the meal along with us.

The Fun Part of the Virtual Wine Dinner. It was genuine!

It wasn’t all challenges though. This current pandemic has also allowed chefs and business owners the opportunity to be creative and innovative. And to learn new skills.

“The most fun part of this whole thing would have to be doing a virtual wine dinner for the first time.”

Chef Ryan McLaughlin – The New Standard

McLaughlin adds the importance of doing special events like this to bring in additional sources of revenue at this time is also greater than it’s ever been. “Being able to bring in a few extra employees that we unfortunately haven’t been able to bring in lately as we’ve had to scale back during these times was awesome as well” he says.

Supporting local businesses is not only good for us but good for the community. And that spirit of collaboration and community made it all happen.

“It was fun to be able to collaborate with Tim to do this and we’re honored that he reached out to us, so that we could put this together and prepare some great food that is paired with some great wines!” says McLaughlin.

For Tim Varan, the fun part of this Virtual Wine Dinner was the opportunity to work with both his daughters and his wife. She “really helped with the food and the live feed, despite not wanting to appear on camera.” he says.

He enjoyed chatting with Chef Ryan on the live feed. “I dove into the “interview” with him without any preparation or planned questions, it developed organically.” he says.

“I found myself asking him (Chef Ryan) some weird questions. “what to do with the leftovers? As if there were any….”

Tim Varan, Tim’s Wine Market

There were no leftovers! But it was still good to know what to do with them if we did. Chef Ryan “was a trooper and endured the process and I think our customers really liked it.” says Varan.

And that we did! We enjoyed the casual feel to the live feed. It was not polished or timed. It was genuine and authentic. And that, is the key to doing anything successfully on social media.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Fantastic charcuterie and cheese board, local heirloom tomato salad, a great bottle of wine and Tim Varan of Tim’s Wine Market guiding us through the tasting. These are the makings of a Perfect Date in quarantine.

Let’s Start with Charcuterie & Cheese

A beautiful Charcuterie and Cheese board is always a great way to start a nice dinner. A generous portion of cured meats & artisan cheeses with all the accompaniments. Whole grain mustard, pickled vegetables, house made granola, house made soda crackers & crostini.

The meats included Coppa Creminelli, a dry aged pork with clove, similar to prosciutto; and Lomo Embuchado, dry cured Iberian pork loin, similar to Jamon Serrano. Both were outstanding.

The cheeses included Manchego, a sheep’s milk firm cheese from Spain. And Humboldt Fog, a goat’s milk cheese with an edible ash center line made in California.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Go Epicurista Charcuterie Board Dreams!

The wine pairing for first and second course was 2016 Chanzy Bouzeron Aligote “Les Trois”, Burgundy France. “For the white we needed a wine with good acidity and body, so several options were available, Gruner Veltliner, Italian whites from the Campania region and even a good Rose would have worked.  Ultimately we landed on Aligote because it is a pretty unique variety and one with a good story.  The “other” wine of Burgundy.” says Varan.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Our table looked like we were in the restaurant, don’t you think?

Local Tastes: Waterkist Farms Heirloom Tomato Salad 

The second course consisted of the restaurant’s popular Deconstructed Greek Salad with heirloom tomatoes, feta mousse, cucumbers, pickled red onions, kalamata olives, oregano & olive oil. I tasted this dish during my first visit to the restaurant and was hooked. (Read my 9 Reasons to Visit The New Standard. This salad was one of them!)

The freshness of the tomatoes, the creamy feta mousse (which would convince even a non feta lover to love it) the briny olives and pickled red onions were perfect compliment.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Waterkist Farms in Sanford Florida has some of the best heirloom tomatoes and hydroponic produce in Central Florida! You can visit the farm on the weekends or get some of their produce at The New Standard.

After determining what would travel well, the next most important criteria driving the menu for the chef was for it to be seasonal and local. “Spring has always been one of my favorite seasons to cook in, with all the great ingredients that are typically available. For the second course we have beautiful heirloom tomatoes from Waterkist farms. This is traditionally their busiest time of the year at the farm, where production is at its highest.” says McLaughlin.

It’s noteworthy for The New Standard to remain true to their commitment to support local farmers and source locally, as well as prepare all items from scratch during a time like this.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.

We lingered on these first two courses – which we actually enjoyed simultaneously as we were drinking the wine. We watched the live feed, chatted about the wines and even talked about our dream to visit Spain and France once again. We’d love to explore the Burgundy and Bordeaux wine regions. Food always has a way to inspire travel in our house. We look forward to the days when we can freely travel about the world once again.

And since The New Standard is also a live music venue, they’ve been supporting local music acts by featuring them on Facebook Live. After our dinner, we tuned in to watch the band performing live at the restaurant. Although the video quality wasn’t great, the sound was awesome. It certainly provided a fun way to continue “the restaurant experience.” A unique option compared to the typical “let’s see what’s on TV!”

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
Catch the Live Feed Music on The New Standard facebook page!

Braised Short Ribs and a guaranteed clean plate!

The main course consisted of Braised Short Ribs with Sunchoke purée, spring peas, grilled spring onion chimichurri, demi glacé and herbs. It was chosen primarily for its fat content and how it would travel.

“Proteins with higher fat content are easier to reheat and keep because they don’t dry out or overcook as quickly as a steak would.” says McLaughlin.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.

Although braised meats are more predominant on menus in the fall and winter, McLaughlin lightened up the dish with a taste of spring. The sunchoke purée, spring peas and spring onion and scallion chimichurri gave it a pop of flavor and brightness.

These plates were practically licked clean!

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.

The Wine pairing: 2017 Chateau Laplagnotte Bellevue, St Emilion. “For the red we could have chosen just about anything, short ribs are easy.” says Varan. “I chose a Merlot based Bordeaux because it shows the “Cabernet is king” crowd that Merlot is not just relevant, but still a noble variety, especially from the right bank of Bordeaux.“

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.

Discovering New Wines!

Wine dinners have always been a great opportunity for wine lovers to discover new wines. Wines that we would not have ordinarily picked up off the shelf. We enjoyed them both immensely and will be buying additional bottles to add to our (quickly dwindling) wine stock.

“My goal with all wine dinners is to expose customers to new wines, trying to push out of their comfort zone.” says Varan.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.

The wine pairings for this dinner also showcased how one wine can pair with multiple dishes as long as you focus on the acidity and structure of the wines. “For the white, acidity and minerality create the frame and focus.  For the red it was minerality and tannin so the obvious choice was Bordeaux.” says Varan.  

Don’t Miss The Next Virtual Wine Dinner: Italy!

A trip to the Veneto region of Italy is on my bucket list! Since we can’t travel right now, I’m excited to let my taste buds lead the way. For the second Virtual Wine Dinner on Friday May 8th, Dexter’s New Standard in partnership with Tim’s Wine Market will take us on a virtual journey to Italy! It’s a perfect way to kick off Mother’s Day weekend.

The wines will be sourced from Inama, a vineyard in Veneto. The white wine will be a Soave Classico from their single-grape vineyard in Foscarino to pair with the first two courses. The red wine will be the Bradisismo Veneto Rosso from the Berici hills. For an added bonus, winemaker Alessio Inama will join the event via live stream! How cool is that?

Take a look at the menu and the great value!

  • First Course: Antipasto of Olives, anchovies, cured meats and cheeses
  • Second Course: Build-Your-Own Bruschetta with Crostini with various savory toppings
  • Third Course:  Pork Ossobuco, served with polenta, sautéed greens and pan jus
  • Dessert: Tiramisu
  • Price: $135 per couple, additional meals $40. (Includes four courses, plus two 750 mL bottles of wine)

Reserve by May 6th by calling Tim’s Wine Market at 407-895-9463. Pick-up at The New Standard on May 8th between 4-6 p.m. The Live stream starts at 7 p.m.

Inama Winery
The Inama Family

The New Standard during Covid-19

If you have not checked out The New Standard, now is the time to do so! They’re currently offering a “Market & Bakeshop” menu with a large variety of items including fresh produce from local Waterkist Farms, Living Hydroponic Lettuce, and Nearby Naturals Mushrooms. Fresh made pastas and breads, sauces, spreads and dips. Sandwich kits, charcuterie, cheeses, house made crackers, soups, a variety of baked goods (their pastry chef is a rock star!) and pre-made cocktails, wine and beer to go. Order by 1pm on Monday for Wednesday pickup or delivery and by 1pm on Wednesday for Friday delivery.

For more info, follow on social media and visit their website.

Enjoy your perfect date night in quarantine with the virtual wine dinner from The New Standard and Tim's Wine Market in Orlando.
The New Standard is located on the corner of Orlando Avenue and Lee Road, Winter Park

I hope you’re inspired to celebrate at home and keep your travel dreams alive. #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. If you do make this recipe, please share on social media and tag @goepicurista #GoEpicRecipes. I would love to virtually clink glasses with you.

Cheers!

Go Epicurista

Disclosure: I have been hosted as a media guest for promotional purposes. I am under no obligation to share this post. As always, all opinions are my own. I only share with you products and experiences I love to inspire you to safely get together with family and friends, celebrate life, and go #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip, and trip at a time!  You can read more about my guidelines in my disclosure policy. Cheers!

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About Christina Thomas

I'm Christina, a hospitality consultant, freelance writer, food & travel enthusiast, brand cheerleader, ice cream fanatic, chocoholic, and eternal optimist on a mission to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. Celebrating life with great food, wine and friends throughout Central Florida and everywhere I GO! I want to inspire you to take time out of your busy schedule to do the same. GO celebrate life today, for someday may never come. Join me and GO Epicurista!

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Meet your Chief Epicurista

I'm Christina, a hospitality consultant, freelance writer, food & travel enthusiast, brand cheerleader, ice cream fanatic, chocoholic, and eternal optimist on a mission to #MakeSomedayHappen one delicious bite, sip and trip at a time. Celebrating life with great food, wine and friends throughout Central Florida and everywhere I GO! I want to inspire you to take time out of your busy schedule to do the same. GO celebrate life today, for someday may never come. Join me and GO Epicurista! Find out more...

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Stop by @choulalapastries in Winter Park & celebrate #NationalChocolateCaramelDay 
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Here’s what we ordered:
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☘️ GNOCCHI SEA GNOCCHI DO: Handmade potato gnocchi, seared Foley’s Georges Bank scallops, crispy pork belly, tomatoes & kale in white wine butter sauce
☘️ LET THERE BE NO RUSH PORK: 12-hour slow braised pork shoulder, champ mashed potato, sautéed cabbage with crispy bacon, carrot puree, apple cider jus
☘️ SHEPHERD’S TO DIE FOR PIE
Braised and pulled beef & lamb with root vegetables in a rich red wine jus with Irish peat smoked mashed potato
DESSERTS: 
☘️ GER’S BREAD AND BUTTER PUDDING: enough said! Just try it!
☘️ FLUFFY LEMON CLOUDS: Intense lemon curd tart with fluffy meringue
BRUNCH (SAT & SUN)
☘️ IT’S OK TO DROOL: Ger’s Bread & Butter pudding French toast style with vanilla mascarpone, mixed berries, hazelnut crunch, crispy maple glazed bacon
DRINKS:
☘️ THE LOST IRISH COFFEE 
☘️ ROSEMARY & MAPLE WHISKEY SOUR: Dickel 12 Tennessee Whisky, crushed rosemary, dark maple syrup, Fees foam, Lemon Sour
☘️ IRISH ESPRESSO MARTINI: Slane Irish Whiskey, J.F. Hadens espresso liqueur,
Guinness simple syrup, chilled espresso
☘️ ICED IRISH: Paddy’s Irish whiskey, butterscotch, Baileys Salted Caramel, cold brew coffee, whipped cream
☘️ IT’S A HELL OF A HOOLEY: Minke Irish Vodka, Muddled Raspberry’s, Lemon Sour, House made Rosemary Syrup, Fees Foam, Prosecco
Check out @raglanroadpub for all the details of this weekend’s festivities including food and drink specials! Say hi to owners Paul and John when you see them. Super nice guys! 
Sláinte!
Go #MakeSomedayHappen
#GoEpicOrlando
OREO YOU HAVING FUN YET?! Here are a few of my fav OREO YOU HAVING FUN YET?! Here are a few of my favorite Oreo treats around Orlando to celebrate #NationalOreoDay 🎉
🍦 @kellyshomemadeicecream - Locations around town, I visited my neighborhood fave at @foxtailhunterscreek 
• Ore-Dough Ice Cream (signature flavor) can’t beat cookies & cream and cookie dough combined!!! 💕 
• Salted Caramel Oreo (March limited time flavor)😘 
🍪 @gideonsbakehouse - Disney Springs, East End Market
• Cookies & Cream Cookie (signature flavor)
• Valentina Cake - red velvet & cookies n cream (signature flavor)
• Frankenstein Cookie (Limited Time /October) 
• Frankenstein Cake (Limited Time /October) 💕
🍩 @smokeanddonuts - Milk District
• Nutty Panda Donut: Nutella Buttercream, Oreos
• S’Moreo Donut: marshmallow, Oreos, Chocolate Chips 💕
• Cheepees Donut: vanilla glaze, Oreos, Chocolate Chips 
🍩 @everglazed_fl - Disney Springs
• Cookies & Cream Donut 😍
🍸 @wyndhamgrandorl Bar 1521 - Bonnet Creek
• Pharmacy Froth Cocktail (recipe in stories / may not be on the menu but ask the friendly bartender)
Have a sweet double stuffed week! 💕
Go #MakeSomedayHappen 
#GoepicOrlando #OreoDay #LoveOrlando
Time to reintroduce a local icon! 🔥 Congrats Ch Time to reintroduce a local icon! 🔥 Congrats Chef IanRussell, Juliana Peña & @smokeanddonuts team! 🔥
The new brick & mortar location of Orlando BBQ & Donut fave food truck is officially OPEN in @themilkdistrict at 601 N. Primrose Drive.
🔥 THE SMOKE: Chef Ian’s award-winning BBQ including smoked USDA Prime Brisket, Carolina Pulled Pork, Brown Butter Turkey Breast, Bama/Carolina Pulled Chicken, & more scratch-made side dishes. Don’t miss the awesome sandwiches, corn fritters, brown butter green beans & stuffed mac & cheese!
🍩 THE DONUTS: Better than ever! Try fun new cake donut creations as well as all the favorite classics taken to a whole new level by pastry chef Brett Vezina! 
❤️ 🔥 The Signature Donut with the logo disc on top features blood orange glaze, champagne sabayon & S&D meringue.
🥃 THE BAR: Yes! they have a full bar! How about a Smoked Old Fashioned? Go for Happy Hour weekdays 3pm-6pm
Support Orlando Local & Go #MakeSomedayHappen
#GoEpicOrlando #TheMilkDistrict #SmokeandDonuts #LoveOrlando
“You do not find a happy life, you make it!” “You do not find a happy life, you make it!” 
I spent one of the best days ever at Discovery Cove! It was my first visit to this one-of-a-kind, all-inclusive, tropical day resort in Orlando, and it won’t be my last! I’m planning a return soon because they have a fantastic special happening now! (See below)
Admission includes: 
🍽️ Unlimited Buffet Breakfast, Lunch & Snacks
🍹 Unlimited Beer & Wine, (add the Premium Drink Package for $40!)
🤿 Swim & snorkel with rays & tropical fish
🐦 Hand-feed exotic birds
🏊‍♀️ Drift along the Wind-Away River
🏖️ Relax on sandy beaches
😎 Chill in the sand-bottom pool with drink in hand (we did this most of the day!) it was glorious!
🚿 Wetsuits, masks, snorkel, lockers, & showers 
🐬 Swim with dolphins experience (for additional fee)
Stay tuned for more about the delicious new Caribbean menu and cocktails at Hibiscus Hideaway & Blue Bamboo Bar, all-new food and beverage outlets. I was very impressed with their Food & Beverage program. 
Highly recommend this experience for locals and visitors. The entire day felt like a true vacation! 
💥 Limited time offer: Florida residents save 30% on their 2023 visits and out of state guests save 20% on a Signature Dolphin Swim Package. You can visit anytime in 2023 based on availability but must book by 3/12/23. Options for packages with admission to @seaworldorlando @aquaticaorlando & @bushgardenstampa available 
Go #MakeSomedayHappen 
(hosted) @DiscoveryCove 
#GoEpicOrlando #DiscoveryCove #LoveOrlando
Orlando’s OG Coffee Shop is Back! Where are you Orlando’s OG Coffee Shop is Back! Where are you getting your caffeine & brunch fix this weekend?
@barniescoffeeandtea flagship cafe in Park Avenue, Winter Park has now re-opened with a brighter modern look, new breakfast, lunch & brunch menu, and new coffee blends. Go check it out! 
I was invited to a preview and loved doing a coffee tasting of 4 blends with Christian, Barnie’s head coffee roaster. My favorite was the Guatemala Gehsa with citrus, cocoa nibs and orange blossom notes. We also sampled new menu items. Don’t miss the Shakshuka & the Popovers!
Here’s what we sampled:
☕️ Coffee:
✨Barnie’s Cafe Blend
✨Guatemala Gehsa
✨Birthday Cake Batter (notes of vanilla sprinkles)
✨UCF Pegasus Blend (notes of chocolate & caramel!) yum! 
> I couldn’t resist getting a latte even though it was 6pm! 🤣 Barista Renata did a fab vanilla latte! 
🍳 Breakfast:
✨ Signature Popovers
✨French Toast with fresh truit
✨Shakshuka with poached egg
✨Seasonal Quiche
🥪 Lunch:
✨Cuban Sandwich
✨Roasted BeetSalad
Did you know Barnie’s is Orlando’s original coffee shop? It opened right here in Winter Park in 1980!
Go support local! #MakeSomedayHappen 
#GoEpicOrlando #LoveOrlando #barniescoffeeandtea #orlandocoffee
Hey Orlando Foodies, @orlandocitysc and @orlpride Hey Orlando Foodies, @orlandocitysc and @orlpride games at @exploriastadium just got a whole lot tastier!
Five #OrlandoMade local restaurants are now permanent concessions vendors so you can tame your hunger with the best local tacos, hot dogs, BBQ, Chicken & Burgers in Orlando! 
Thank you Exploria Stadium for inviting me to the media preview. Can’t wait to go cheer on our 2022 US Open Champions at the season opener this Saturday!
Here’s a preview of what we sampled: 
🌮 BLACK ROOSTER TAQUERIA - Chicken Tinga Taco on Flour Tortilla, w. lettuce, radish, cotija cheese, cilantro. Love those tacos! It was nice to see owner Juliana Calloway and Chief Tasting Officer Ryder Calloway dancing! 🕺🏻 @blkroostertaco 🙌🏼
📍 The Wall / Section 24
🌭 HARRELL’S HOT DOGS - Orlando City Stadium Dog features a Nathan’s Hot Dog topped with House Red Onion Sauce, Sauerkraut & Sport Peppers and finished with a Spicy Brown Mustard. Nice to meet owners Drew & David Cardaci! @_whats.up.dog_ 🙌🏼
📍 Section 30
🍖 4 RIVERS SMOKEHOUSE - Orlando’s favorite Pulled Pork Sandwich! Didn’t get to see owner John Rivers did you know you can now pick up 4R sauces & spices at Publix?! @4riverssmokehouse 🙌🏼
📍 Section 31
🐓 THE COOP by 4Rivers - Hand-breaded Chicken Tenders with 4R BBQ sauce @thecoop_wp 🙌🏼
📍 Section 9
🍔 TEAK NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL - Drunken Monk Burger with Smoked Bacon, Provolone Cheese, Roasted Cherry Tomotoes, house-made Angry Orchard Onion Jam, on Herb Mayo & Melted White Cheddor on a Pretzel Bun with Teak Chips. Best Burger in Orlando!  It was so nice to meet owner Jon Proechel after all these years of being a fan of their epic burgers! @teakneighborhoodgrill 🙌🏼
📍 Section 18
🍹MANE-GO MARGARITA - In The Wild Margarita with @camarenatequila - super tasty! 
⭐️ FYI - A Rotating Vendor Cart will feature @cholodogs & @sushieatstation among others 
⚽️ Will you be at the season opener this Saturday? 
#VamosOrlando Let’s Go! #ManEveryWall 💜 
Hosted #GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #ThingsToDoinOrlando
Happy #NationalMargaritaDay 🎉 This is “NOT E Happy #NationalMargaritaDay 🎉
This is “NOT EVERYONE’S MARGARITA” -  But it is mine! Made with Vida Mezcal, Cuervo Traditional Plata Tequila, Jalapeño, Creme de Mure, House Sour, & Black Salt. Epic! 
📍 Go get yours at @paddlefishorl in @disneysprings
Cheers! 
#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #DisneySprings
Hey Wine Lovers, I almost missed it’s #NationalD Hey Wine Lovers, I almost missed it’s #NationalDrinkWineDay 🥂
Here’s my 3 Favorite Wine Bars in Orlando: 
🍷 @quantumleapwinery - Orlando’s only sustainable winery & cidery, located in Mills 50 District. Try Kaley’s Rescue Red Blend & don’t miss the @thetastytrio “Wine, Cheese & Chocolate”events. 
🍷 @viniawinekitchen - fantastic boutique wines & Italian / Brazilian shareable plates in a charming intimate setting, located in Winter Park. Be sure to ask owner Fabio for his recommendations! 
🍷 @winebargeorge - Orlando’s only Master Sommelier owned restaurant with over 160 wines by the glass, bottle & ounce, located in Disney Springs. Say hi to somm genius George Miliotes and don’t miss their fab boards & wines from around the globe! 
Go #MakeSomedayHappen 
#GoEpicOrlando #OrlandoWine #loveOrlando
Don’t miss “Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day” Don’t miss “Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day” on Saturday 2/18! 
@kellyshomemadeicecream has created special breakfast-themed ice cream flavors for this annual International Childhood Cancer Awareness event
Order a cup, cone or shake or better yet, get an Ice Cream Flight & try all four! 
🥞 Blueberry Pancake (My favorite!)
🥣 Breakfast Buddies
🥓 Maple Bourbon Bacon
💥 Cinnamon Crunch
🗓️ When: Saturday February 18th, 9am-11am
📍 Where: All Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream Scoop Shops and participating Counters 
💰 50% of sales during breakfast will be donated to @gktwvillage 
🍦 “Eat Ice Cream For Breakfast Day” was created in 2013 in honor of Malia Grace, by her mom and aunt after she lost her battle with cancer in 2010. Malia Grace loved ice cream and her family wanted to commemorate her birthday, 2/18, in a way that would be fitting for her. During her wish trip at Give Kids The World, she had the opportunity to eat ice cream for breakfast and it was a highlight of the family’s experience. 
🌎 Give Kids The World Village is an 89-acre, whimsical nonprofit in Central Florida that provides critically ill children and their families with magical week-long wish vacations at no cost. Every wish family is treated to accommodations, transportation, donated theme park tickets, all meals and snacks, nightly entertainment, and more. Since 1986, Give Kids The World has welcomed more than 182,000 families from all 50 states and 76 countries.
Stop by Kelly’s and pick up these awesome flavors! But, regardless of where you are, Eat Ice Cream for Breakfast in honor of Malia, and raise awareness for those who battle childhood cancer. 💛
#GoEpicOrlando #eaticecreamforbreakfastday #kellyshomemadeicecream #kellysicecream #orlandoicecream
Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥️ Add a little fire Happy Valentine’s Day! ♥️ Add a little fire & passion to your life, head to @gideonsbakehouse for their Eternal Flame Cookie & Cake. They are 🔥in the best way!
🍰 Eternal Flame Cake is a 3-Layer Double Frosted Chocolate work of art! Red Cherry Buttercream layers and Chocolate Fudge Buttercream mixed with a bit of that Eternal Flame spice on the outer layer. Not too spicy and absolutely decadent! Pair it with a nice bold red wine!
🍪 Eternal Flame Chocolate Cookie packs a nice kick laced with house-made Ancho, Cayenne, and Cinnamon Spice Mix, infused with a magical essence of cherry and topped with Chocolate Covered Cherries. 
❤️ For a limited time, a special version of the Eternal Flame cookie without the spice mix is available too! (Check Gideon’s IG for details)
📍 Available only in February at Gideon’s in East End Market & Disney Springs
Go celebrate with the best cookies and cakes on the planet!
#MakeSomedayHappen #GoEpicOrlando #GideonsBakehouse #DisneySprings #ValentinesDayTreat
For The Love of Chocolate… stop by @peterbrookew For The Love of Chocolate… stop by @peterbrookewp and pick up the best treats for your sweetie and besties 💕
A few of my favorites: 
🍓 Chocolate Covered Strawberries (require advanced order)
❤️ “Jami Choo’s” Chocolate Shoes
💋 Assorted Truffles (loved the red lips!)
♥️ Chocolate Covered Popcorn! 
💖 Baskets with a variety of treats! (Don’t miss the Chocolate Covered Oreos, Cat Tails & Cookies)
☎️ Call the shop to reserve a basket for quick pick up at (407) 644-3200. They’re open regular hours today & 7AM -11:15PM on Valentine’s Day!
🍓 Thank you to Peterbrooke’s creative Cupid chocolatiers for these gorgeous berries! 
#GoEpicOrlando #PeterbrookeWP #winterparkfl
Bon jour! Bon soir, enchante! 💕 The perfect way Bon jour! Bon soir, enchante! 💕 The perfect way to celebrate Galentine’s Day & Valentine’s Day is with the best French pastries in Orlando! 
Thank you @chefstephsteph for these epic @choulalapastries 💕
Pre-order and pick up at either Choulala Park Avenue and 436 location! You’re going to want to get all of this! 
VALENTINE’S DAY DESSERT BOX!
Chef Steph created an epic gourmet assortment of Valentine’s Day delights perfect to share:
💋 (1) Lychee Rose French Kiss Entremet
♥️ (2) Conversation Heart Vanilla Macarons
💝 (2) Crème Brûlée Choux Cream Puffs!
“I LOVE CHOU” BOX includes:
❤️ Passion Fruit, Raspberry & Crème Brûlée Choux Cream Puffs
♥️ Red Velvet, Lavender & Conversation Heart Macaron
❤️ Strawberry Eclair
I also picked up these gorgeous heart shaped entremets:
💜 Exotique: Passion Fruit & Coconut 
💖 Sweeties: Strawberry & Chocolate Brownie
Go enjoy the sweetest Galentine’s & Valentine’s Day #MakeSomedayHappen 
📍Choulala Park Avenue is open regular hours Saturday & Sunday, closed Mon, but will open special hours on V-Day Tuesday 11a-8p.
📍Choulala 436 open regular hours including 10-5pm V- Day
(Hosted) #GoEpicOrlando #BlissfulBite #ChoulalaPastries #Galentines #ValentinesTreats
It’s #NationalPizzaDay but all I’m thinking ab It’s #NationalPizzaDay but all I’m thinking about is Hot Garlic Knots from @official_pizza_bruno 
Have you tried these?  They are a #MustEat in Orlando!
Look for the lit “Hot Knots Now!” sign! 🔥 And, when you think there isn’t enough garlic... there’s more! 🧄 🍕 
Go get some!
#GoEpicOrlando #OrlandoFoodie #MakeSomedayHappen
💜 Feeling the lavender haze... One of my favori 💜 Feeling the lavender haze... One of my favorite foodie experiences of 2022 was dining at Salt & The Cellar by Michelin Chef Akira Back and spending the night at the new @ettehotel - a gorgeous boutique hotel with impeccable attention to detail! I even got to meet @chefakiraback 
So excited I’m going back tonight to check out their new Lipa Rooftop Bar & Restaurant and have reservations for Afternoon Tea next month! 
Add a visit to ette hotel to your Foodie Bucket List for 2023! 
A few favorites from my last visit:
🍸 Fantastic Zero-Proof Cocktails by @jarldevries: It’s Dry January all year long! Featured first is The Kraken, a gorgeous purple cocktail made with Butterfly Pea Flower Tea & Champagne Vinegar
✨ Toro Tartare: A gorgeous board with fatty tuna and accompaniments
✨ Akira Back Tuna Pizza: his famous dish is a Must Eat! 
✨ Spinach Oshitashi Salad: the most gorgeous salad I’ve ever seen! 
✨ NY Strip with Wasabi Kizami Butter, Chimichurri Sauce, & choice of gourmet salts. Amazing! Loved that Espresso salt
✨ Miso Black Cod, yuzu air, pickled cauliflower 
✨ Togarashi Fries & Kimchi Brussels
✨ Dessert: Yuzu Curd and Chocolate in a Cup
☕️ “Where The Cloud Ends” Zero-Proof espresso martini with Yuzu Tonic, Lemon Cordial, Espresso, 0% Coffee Liquor
💜 The lobby decor with lavender and green touches was dreamy.
🧺 They have a Laundry Museum! 
📕 The Book Room features incredible books. The giant picture book requires gloves to review as it is one of a few in the world! 
The hotel is focused on wellness and offers Wellness Suites completely equipped with a full gym! 
Make plans to dine at @saltandthecellarbyakiraback and stay at @ettehotel and GO #MakeSomedayHappen
(Hosted) #GoEpicOrlando #ettehotel #saltandthecellarbyakiraback #experiencekissimmee #LoveOrlando
Don’t let the casual vibe at @jujubysusuru fool Don’t let the casual vibe at @jujubysusuru fool you. The Kappo Bar Omakase experience with Chef Lewis Lin is out of this world (& Michelin-worthy!)
“irasshaimase / come in!” is what you hear first upon entering this revamped Pizza Hut building off Colonial Drive. Everyone is welcome at Juju, one of Orlando’s newest restaurants and one that belongs on every #OrlandoFoodie bucket list! 
I was invited to experience their Kappo Bar and it checked all the boxes for a truly amazing #MakeSomedayHappen experience.
The retro Japanese izakaya-style restaurant serves up a 10-course menu at the bar and a more casual a la carte menu in the dining room. 
Omakase menu changes regularly but always features the five primary cooking techniques (grilling, steaming, frying, simmering, and raw) using local and imported ingredients, in-house dry-aged fish, and binchotan charcoal-fired dishes. Everything is prepared right in front of you for an immersive experience.
And, Don’t miss the fun cocktails! I loved “That Old Pizza Hut” was like an orange creamsicle with Suntory Toki Whiskey served in a Pizza Hut cup! 
Make reservations and go check this Orlando restaurant off your bucket list.
Thank you Chef Lewis and Mai for your outstanding hospitality. I’ll be coming back soon!
(Hosted) #GoEpicOrlando #LoveOrlando #omakase
Hello 2023! Why start the year on a diet? My new y Hello 2023! Why start the year on a diet? My new year’s resolution is to focus on self-care.  Eating healthy and exercising, sure. But also treating myself to more @gideonsbakehouse cookies, cakes & cold brews. Who’s with me? What will you treat yourself with this year?
You want something. Go Get It. Period!
This was my last purchase of 12/31/22... I wanted to start 2023 on a sweet note!
What if my 2023 resolution is to visit Gideon’s every month for their awesome limited-edition treats? 
I think that’s a resolution I can keep!  January’s Butterscotch flavors sound to die for.
Did you hear? The epic Banana Bread Chocolate Chip cookie is now part of the permanent lineup. While the Coffee Cake is my all-time favorite, this one is in the top 3! And, the original Peanut Butter Cold Brew is a must pairing.
What resolution will you set today? Go #MakeSomedayHappen 🎉 Happy New Year everyone!
#GoEpicOrlando #2023resolutions #GideonsBakehouse #DisneySprings
Happy New Year 2023! 🎉 We had a fun and very ch Happy New Year 2023! 🎉 We had a fun and very chill night at @disneysprings. How about you?
I love Progressive Dining and Disney Springs has plenty of options. We just get a spot at the bar and order a drink and a fun bite. Then move on to the next spot. So easy! No reservations required! 
🦀 1st Stop: @paddlefishorl 
Steak Skewers
Crab Topped Fries 
Larceny Old Fashioned 
Capt Handsome - Cathead Vodka & Raspberry 
Mayan Empress - Santa Teresa Añejo Rum, pineapple
🍰 2nd Stop: @homecominfl 
Espresso Martini 
Carrot Cake 
☘️ 3rd Stop: @raglanroadpub 
Great entertainment! 
@guinnessus 
Great Irish Hooley Cocktail - so refreshing with strawberries & Prosecco 
🍪 Not pictured: we managed a stop at @gideonsbakehouse to pick up treats to start the new year!!! (They had a 2 second brief moment with no line around 11pm! I could not resist! I picked up a Banana Bread Chocolate Chip cookie which is now part of the year-round line up! I also got a slice of Golden Oreo cake and a PB Cold Brew to enjoy today! Starting 2023 off right… and not a diet 😂
We went early, had a great time and got home in time to watch the ball drop!!! 🎉
Wishing you all happiness and lots of delicious treats in 2023! 
#GoEpicOrlando #MakeSomedayHappen #DisneySprings
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