2015 Orlando Chili Cookoff

The Orlando Chili Cookoff is always a tasty fun good time. It's happening again March 7th, 2015
Noon at Festival Park near the Milk District, (corner of Livingston and Maguire). I suggest getting there early, many of the chilis run out after the first few hours.

    Tasty chili samples – From Over 80 Different Chili Booths!

• Live music all day
• Sponsor promotional give-aways
• Raffle items
• A MASSIVE Kids Zone
• The World Chili Eating Challeng
• Capture memories in the Paparazzi Zone

   Drinks:
        Tito’s Vodka Drinks — $7
        Ice Cold Craft Beer — $7
        Ice Cold Miller Lite — $5
        Rex-Goliath Wine — $4


purchase tickets here:
http://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/695899

Check out the bands that will be playing:

Beebs and Her Money Makers

Room 2

Greg Warren Band

details:
http://orlandochilicookoff.com/entertainment/

Downtown Food & Wine Fest 2015

Downtown Food & Wine Fest is coming up soon. the two-day Fest features mouth-watering dishes from 30 of Orlando’s premier restaurants, domestic and international wines, and live entertainment.

check out some pics and info from last years event over at Taste, Cook, Sip. http://www.tastecooksip.com/event-recap-the-2014-downtown-food-and-wine-fest/

Date / Time: 
Saturday, February 21, 2015 (noon to 9 p.m.) 
Sunday, February 22, 2015 (noon to 7 p.m.) 

Location:  
Downtown Orlando at Lake Eola along Robinson Street 

Admission:
Admission is $15 per person, per day with advance online purchase.   
Admission at the door is $20 per person, per day.
Admission for children under age 12 is free.    

Food and beverage tickets are available at the Fest for $2 each; food and beverage offerings range from one to four tickets.

The Ultimate Fest Experience ticket is $100 per person, per day and includes VIP parking, general admission, Wine Tasters Club, $20 in food and beverage tickets, access to the private stage side pavilion with premium wine selections, access to private restrooms and a commemorative gift.  A limited number of VIP tickets are available with advance online purchase. 

Entertainment:
Lifehouse Saturday
Loverboy Sunday

buy tickets here:
http://downtownfoodandwinefest.cbslocal.com/2012/01/11/ticket-info/

last years winners:

2014 Foodie Award (based on one food item for taste, unique flavor and culinary excellence)
Smiling Bison - Pretzel Bread Pudding

2014 Best Overall Menu (based on overall menu creativity, depth of offerings, and quality)
Kasa Tapas & Raw Bar

2014 Best of Show (based on fun factor, overall energy, and crowd vibe)
Siro at Orlando World Center Marriott – winner in 2013 and 2014

Participating Restaurants:

• Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe' is proud to serve the freshest expertly prepared German Food in Central Florida. To check out more from their menu visit their website here. 2015 Menu: -Beinen Stich (Bee Sting Cake) -Cajun Wurst -Ocktoberfest...
• Cooper's Hawk Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurants offers handcrafted wine and modern casual dining.  Each dish is created with our handcrafted wines in mind.  We’ve developed a menu with upscale appetizers, entrées, and desserts for today’s sophisticated..
• Old Hickory Steakhouse Enjoy one of the finest restaurants in Kissimmee. Indulge in fine wines as you savor tender, juicy premium All Natural Black Angus seared-to-perfection or artisanal cheeses from our Maitre d'Fromage. To make a reservation or learn more about Old... 

• Christner's Del Frisco's "Christner’s Del Frisco’s Prime Steak & Lobster is one of Orlando’s oldest steakhouses. A fine dining experience, Carole and David Christner have built a restaurant that provides meticulous service in an intimate and relaxed setting.  All steaks...
• Kobe Japanese Steakhouse Kobe Japanese Steakhouse specializes in Teppanyaki or Hibachi cooking. Guests to Kobe are entertained by a personal chef as he prepares succulent steak, chicken, and seafood dishes according to the ancient Hibachi style of food preparation. Kobe...
• Marlow's Tavern Marlow's Tavern offers American tavern fare with an upscale twist. Featuring a diverse menu with fresh, high-quality, seasonal ingredients, ice cold craft and local beer, and handcrafted cocktails; Marlow’s has the feel of a neighborhood restaurant....
• Copper Canyon Grill There's nothing timid about our chicken... or our meatloaf... or our hand cut hickory grilled sizzling steaks, line caught Ahi tuna or cornbread baked in a skillet and fired up by fresh jalapeno and Serrano peppers. This is full flavored American...
• Jeremiah's Italian Ice Jeremiah's Italian Ice is proud to be a part of the 2015 Downtown Food & Wine Festival! To learn more about Jeremiah's visit their website or Click Here 2015 Menu: -Snack Size Ice -Small Size Ice Flavors: Mango, Cookies & Cream, Scoop...
• Sushi House SUSHI House provides a world class dining experience in a warm, romantic setting. Famous for the freshest sushi, Sushi House also has a great modern and traditional menu, an incredible new Japanese Fusion Sushi, delicious Beef, Chicken, & Shrimp...
• Hard Rock Cafe Hard Rock Cafe is proud to be a part of the Downtown Food & Wine Fest. To check out more about the Hard Rock Cafe:  click here   2015 Menu: -Legendary Cubano Buger -Legendary Mac and Cheese -Legendary Combo ( Burger & Ma...
• Hawkers Prominent on the streets of Asia, Hawkers are street vendors who depend on locally grown ingredients to create dishes sold from mobile carts and stands. The most successful recipes, typically passed from one generation to the next, bring flocks of...
• Primo Restaurant Orlando At The JW Marriott Grande Lakes Primo Restaurant at the JW Marriott Grande Lakes is proud to be a part of the Downtown Food & Wine Fest. 2015 Menu: -Primo Meatball Subs with (build your own toppings) served on a house made bun -Wild Boar and Porcini Pate with Whisper Creek...
• Shari Sushi Lounge Located at 621 East Central Bld in Orlando, Shari Sushi is a great place to enjoy fresh sushi. We invite you to experience a sampling of Shari's delicious creations at the 2015 Downtown Food & Wine Fest! Shari Sushi is proud to be a part of...
• Siro Urban Italian Kitchen Siro Urban Italian Kitchen at the Orlando Marriott World Center celebrates the authenticity of rustic Italian cuisine, shared among friends in a casual, upbeat and inviting setting.  Siro is proud to be a part of the 2015 Downtown Food & Wine...
• Sky Candy Gourmet Cotton Candy Sky Candy specializes in retro, classic, and adventurous varieties of gourmet cotton candy. Using organic Florida sugar we mix in ingredients like toasted coconut and citrus zest to create flavors that are bursting with personality. Only 110 calories...  

• Peach Valley Cafe Experience the Freshness isn’t a marketing slogan. It’s a standard of quality and level of service created by our staff. It applies to every piece of the Peach Valley pie. Our breakfast and lunch offerings are homemade, using the best and freshest...
• Sweet By Holly Gourmet cupcakes baked with love daily! For SWEET News, "Like" Us on Facebook or check out our website! 2015 Menu  - Mini Cupcakes - Classic Cupcakes
• The Smiling Bison The Smiling Bison is proud to be a part of the 2015 Downtown Food & Wine Fest! 2015 Menu  - Roast Beef w/ Spicy Horseradish  Mustard - House Smoked Kielbasa & Grits - Peanut Butter Pretzel Bread Pudding -Chorizo  or Veggie Taco...
• TR Fire Grill With a unique twist to the Tony Roma’s that you knew before, we’ve added a little fuel to the fire and ignited an even bigger flame! This flame is fueled by handcrafted cocktails and a new, chef-inspired menu! Join us at Fire Grill and enjoy comfort...
• The Knife The Knife is much more than a traditional "all-you-can-eat" restaurant. What sets us apart from the rest not is only the quality of our Argentine-style cuts of meat, charcoal-grilled in the traditional way, allowing each customer to unlimited choices...
• WildSide BBQ Bar & Grille From our famous pulled pork sandwiches, to our lip-smacking baby back ribs, we slow smoke our BBQ daily with a dry-rub seasoning and top it off with our famous secret BBQ sauce. We also have an extensive menu that includes our signature salads, fresh...
• Fish On Fire “Fish on Fire” is a gathering place for friends, family and visitors. The atmosphere is akin to the Caribbean. We offer Daily Specials, weekly LIVE MUSIC performances and reel Southern hospitality. Whether you grab a seat on our pet friendly patio or...
• Tibby's New Orleans Kitchen Tibby’s is not just about what you see but how it makes you feel. It’s about expressing personality & character through food, music, art and heritage. It is not the New Orleans you may have visited; it is the New Orleans that locals call...
• The Pub A true British Pub experience complete with brilliant food, drink and genuine hospitality. We are best known for our signature Fish-n-Chips but guests can also nosh on shareable dishes, build their own burgers or savor some classic comfort food. An...
• The Porch 2015 Menu: -Flower Sprouts: Fresh brussel sprouts and cauliflower dusted with seasoned flour, flash fried and tossed with a pancetta vinaigrette -Turkey Speeder: House ground mini turkey burger topped with pepper jack cheese and pico de...
• Morton's Steakhouse Morton's Steakhouse is proud to be a part of the Downtown Food & Wine Fest. To check out more of what Morton's Steakhouse has to offer, visit their website. 2015 Menu: -Mini Sirloin Burger on a Silver Dollar Bun -Ahi Tuna Crisps

New Restaurants in Orlando January 2015

Here are some new places of note that opened in the past few months:

Segafredo - They have an open air outdoor bar upstairs and serve a wide variety of coffee drinks and also food like meatballs, flatbreads, muffins, salads etc.

1618 N. Mills Ave.
Orlando, FL 32803
407.930.6568
http://www.yelp.com/biz/segafredo-orlando


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The Meatball Shoppe
7325 Lake Underhill Rd
Orlando, FL 32822
(407) 270-6505
http://themeatballshoppe.co

http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-meatball-shoppe-orlando

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Izziban Sushi and Korean BBQ - reviews are mostly good.
5310 E Colonial Dr
Orlando, FL 32807
(407) 270-8811

$19.99/person for all you can eat lunch & $29.99/person for all you can eat dinner.

http://www.yelp.com/biz/izziban-sushi-and-korean-bbq-orlando


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Spice Burgr - reviews are mixed
165 S Orange Ave
Orlando, FL 32801
Downtown
(407) 650-9134
http://spiceburgr.com

http://www.yelp.com/biz/spice-burgr-orlando

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Mynt - Indian - in the former Fresh space, Hannibal Square across from Dexter's
533 W New England Ave
Winter Park, FL 32789
(321)-441-9872
http://myntorlando.com


http://www.yelp.com/biz/mynt-winter-park


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Devine Wine and Grill
15 Alafaya Woods Blvd
Oviedo, FL 32765
(407) 359-5016
http://devinewineandgrill.com


http://www.yelp.com/biz/devine-wine-and-grill-orlando

 

Orlando Sentinel 17th annual Foodie Awards

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/entertainment/restaurants/os-best-orlando-restaurants-2014-htmlstory.html

Some local restaurants won in the readers choice categories but so did a lot of chains. Here are a few local places that won, make sure to read the comments at the bottom of the Sentinel site:

Cheap eats

Readers' choice

Tako Cheena

Chinese

Readers' choice

Mings Bistro

Cuban

Readers' choice

Black Bean Deli

Food truck

Readers' choice

Korean BBQ Taco Box

French

Readers' choice

Chez Vincent

German

Readers' choice

Hollerbach's Willow Tree Cafe

Greek

Readers' choice

The Greek Corner

Indian

Readers' choice

Royal Indian Cuisine

Mexican

Readers' choice

Cocina 214

Puerto Rican

Readers' choice

Guavate

Sandwich

Readers' choice

Beefy King

Thai

Readers' choice

Thai Cuisine

Yuki Hana Fusion Sushi - Oviedo, FL

Yuki Hana Fusion Sushi is located on Aloma at the Intersection of Tuskawilla very close to the 417.

They opened about 2 years ago.  Chef Eddie has over 15 years experience as a Sushi chef and trained with several Japanese Master Chefs at a fine Japanese restaurant in Long Island, New York.

Not just a traditional Sushi restaurant, Yuki Hana has all kinds of different dishes from various Asian locales. Some unique standouts from the menu are the Wagyu Beef,  Korean Seafood Pancake, Scallops with Uni cream risotto and the Oxtail tacos.

A special for the holidays, which is offered from now until the end of the year. They are serving a rare treat, whole fish. The whole fish dinner is offered Fri-Sun by reservation only. The fish is a steamed striped bass with ginger scallion shoyu sauce.  It is served with a soup course & family style sides, such as sautéed chinese broccoli, mapo tofu, dumplings and a dessert course. The whole fish dinner is available for 2-8 people.

They also have some good happy hour specials. Monday Night from 5:00 – 10:00 pm and Tuesday – Thursday from 5:00 – 6:30 pm they have 2 for 1 drinks on with a purchase from the happy hour food menu.

On a recent visit I tried a vast array of the menu items, see pics below:

Dining Room

Lemongrass Hot & Sour Seafood Soup $7
Shrimp, scallop, calamari, mussel and assorted vegetables

Ahi Poke $ 13
Ahi tuna seared with shichimi pepper and tossed with hot sesame oil, Sriracha, scallions, and masago. Served on crispy wonton chips and avocado

Kanpachi Crudo $15
Hawaii yellowtail, black garlic, basil oil, tobiko, cucumber, lava salt, lemon confit, and togarashi

The Kanpachi Crudo was very light and fresh tasting with a tangy sauce

Crown Royal Roll $ 16
Lobster tempura and avocado inside and topped with seared Angus marble beef, bacon jam, radish spouts and spicy mayo

Fire Cracker Roll $14
Assorted fish, krab, asparagus, and cream cheese rolled inside, crispy fried. On top is tempura scallops mixed with tobiko, chives, sweet chili sauce, and eel sauce, served with fire on the plate

Such a dramatic presentation, Fire on the plate!

Live UNI with raw quail egg, ikura.

Live Uni

This dish had a very elaborate presentation served in the sea urchin shell, it was a special, Live Uni flew in that day from Santa Barbara. Served with a raw quail egg and Ikura(Salmon eggs).

Fuji Mountain Roll $13
Shrimp, krab, mixed with tobiko, bacon, melted mozzarella cheese, tempura flakes on top, inside asparagus, avocado, drizzled with eel sauce, and spicy mayo

This was my favorite dish, lots of good flavors and a nice little crunch here and there

Vietnamese Sashimi Roll $13
Tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and shichimi pepper rolled together with spring mix cucumber and caramelized shallots in clear rice paper. Served in hot sesame vinaigrette, mango sauce and crushed peanuts

One of the few sushi rolls made without rice, lots of peanuts, good sauces

Uni Sampler

Chocolate Lava Cake with Ice Cream

Overall everything was very good, the atmosphere, service and food were all great. I'll be making regular stops here to eat and try all the unique menu items.


Menu pics:

HAPPY HOUR MENU:

Obliv-o-Brunch PJ Party Sunday, December 21 at 11:00am - 2:00pm

https://www.facebook.com/events/373059422859768/

Sunday, December 21

at 11:00am - 2:00pm

RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends
https://www.facebook.com/events/373059422859768/

from their Facebook:
"We will be having a Pajama Party for our Holiday Themed Brunch! So roll out of bed and head on over for some holiday cheer and of course beer!

Drink Specials-
*Spiked Eggnog
*Warm Mulled Wine
*Warm Spiced Mead
*Founders Breakfast Stout
*Mikkeller Beer Geek Brunch

Non-Alcoholic-
*Eggnog (house made)
*Hot Cocoa w/ Marshmallows (house made)
*Coffee (holiday blend or regular)

here are some pics from past Oblivion Brunches