Scott Joseph Pop-Up Dinner #2 at Quantum Leap Winery with East End Market

Saturday March 2nd, 2013, I attended the Scott Joseph Pop-Up Dinner #2 at Quantum Leap Winery with East End Market. "East End Market is a new up & coming public market opening in spring 2013 in the Audubon Park Garden District of Orlando. The market will showcase some of Central Florida’s top food entrepreneurs, tradespeople, artists, and chefs." Since East End Market isn't open yet they teamed up with Food Writer Scott Joseph and had a pop-up dinner at Quantum Leap Winery to showcase some of the chefs that will be serving food at the Market.

The featured chefs were Rhys & Alexia Gawlak of Cuts & Craft(appetizer & main course), Henry Salgado of Txokos Basque Kitchen and Spanish River Grill(Main Course),  Elisa Scarpa of Fatto in Casa(Dessert) & Jamie McFadden of Cuisiners Catering(appetizers)

Learn More about the market Merchants:
http://eastendmkt.com/
http://cutsandcraft.com/
http://fattoincasa.us/
http://www.thespanishrivergrill.com/

I didn't get any photos of the appetizers but they were all really great, my favorite was the Smoked Duck "Ham Salad Sandwich" with roasted beet horseradish cream, Canadian bacon dust & house made pickles on a rye crostini. Another interesting appetizer was served in a tuna can.

Menu

 

The Winery was a great space to have the event in, the aroma of the wooden wine barrels was noticeable from the dinner tables.

 

It was a bit dark

 

First course from @CutsandCraft. Duck & carrots. Ham Scrapple, sabayon, carrot confit

Florida snowy grouper, smoked sausage, braised escarole, gigante beans, pancetta broth, tomato jam

Wood-grilled Wagyu ribeye, porcini mushrooms, Cabrales, porcini-salted frites

Fourth Course by Elisa Scarpa of Fatto in Casa
Flourless Chocolate Torte - Hazelnuts, chocolate ganache, raspberry coulis.

Food events at the 2013 Florida Film Festival

The Florida Film Festival always has great food events during their annual weeklong film fest. This year is no exception. We attended many of the food events at the film festival last year including a dinner at Luma. You can read about it and see pics here: Luma Chef Feast

 Here is a summary of this years food events:

http://www.floridafilmfestival.com/

Opening Night Film and Party

Friday, April 5
Opening Night Film: TBA
Eye Opening Night Party
8PM–2AM
Enzian & Eden Bar
1300 South Orlando Ave Maitland, FL 32751
Early Purchase Party ONLY tickets are $85
Local culinary geniuses prepare “Eye Opening” bites to delight your appetite and intrigue your mind. Hang out while Eden Bar serves up tasty handmade cocktails all night long!
Participating restaurants include Eden Bar, K Restaurant & Wine Bar, Ethos Vegan Kitchen, Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress, and more!
Food will be served 8:30–11:30PM.  Drinks will be available all night.

Saturday Night Whole Cookery Feast at Cask and Larder

A foodie’s dreams come true! Enjoy an evening at Central Florida’s newest “Southern Public House,” Cask and Larder, sister restaurant of The Ravenous Pig. Savor an evening fit for royalty at this new Winter Park treasure! Brewmaster Ron Raike will brew custom beer as well as present some extraordinary hand-crafted cocktails and specialty wines. Chef/Owners James and Julie Petrakis promise to cook up an unforgettable four-course Whole Cookery Feast, featuring items such as whole suckling pigs, whole smoked duck, whole roasted fish, and their Butcher’s Feast of lamb.* Celebrity chefs from around the nation join in to create their own take on “Southern” dishes that are sure to delight your taste buds. Don’t miss this eye-opening evening filled with delectable food and great friends!
Event Details: April 6, 2013 7PM Cask and Larder 565 West Fairbanks Avenue, Winter Park, Florida, 32789
Single ticket price: $150** Couple ticket price: $250**

A Taste of Movie Magic with Francine Segan

TV personality, film buff, food historian, and cookbook author Francine Segan dishes out a taste of sweet and savory movie magic with history lessons from her book Movie Menus and film clips of favorite food scenes, all part of a lively discussion at Enzian. Get a peek at foodie film moments in classics such as Big Night, Babette’s Feast, Animal House, and Five Easy Pieces. During the presentation, you can order from a special menu inspired by movie quotes as well as partake in some complimentary tastings.  Win prizes in a movie trivia contest that tests your foodie film knowledge! Top it all off with a special book signing at Enzian’s Eden Bar.
Event Details:
Saturday, April 6, 2013
4:30-6PM
General admission is $10 and includes complimentary tastings.
Book signing to follow the presentation.
Books will be available for purchase.

ClandesDine Dinner

This past Saturday night I was able to attend a pop-up dinner presented by The Daily City and Chef Bryce Balluff, I've been anticipating this for dinner for a while.

Chef Bryce runs the Fork in the Road food truck and has an impressive resume.

The event was held during the cardboard art festival at Say It Loud, 1121 N. Mills Ave. The big orange building on the corner near BART.

 It made for some really unique and interesting decor during the meal. Cardboard robots, cats, menacing fish and submarines decorated the space. 

Music was provided by the Florida Youth Symphony Orchestra string quartet, playing a nice mix of classical songs along with Beatles and some movie theme songs.

The menu for ClandesDine was described by the chef as being inspired by being a kid. It included, Molecular PB&J with port wine jelly, Turducken Sausage, wild boar sausage meatballs, port wine pears & more. It was a wonderful evening with great company.

pb&j- Peanut Butter "Sand" - Port & Concord Grape Jelly- Torn Brioche

fish sticks- Royal Red Shrimp "Goujonettes", Vegetable Chips, Nitrogen Shattered "Million Island Dressing"

beans & weenies- Tur-du-cken Sausage, 23 Flavor BBQ Heirloom Beans, Crispy Herbs

Green Beans -  Blistered Haricot Vert, Crispy House Cured Bacon, Truffled Balsamic Glaze

ice cream float- Left Hand Milk Stout. Nitrogen Vanilla Ice Cream "Pearls"

cake & cookies- Raspberry Butter Cream, Chocolate Chip Cookie Crumble, Torn Chocolate Sponge

Orlando ClandesDine #1

The Daily City and Chef Bryce Balluff are having their first pop up dinner Saturday January 26th, 2012. I've been hearing about this for a very long time but glad it's finally come to fruition. Chef Bryce runs the Fork in the Road food truck and has an impressive resume so this will be a great event. Orlando ClandesDine #1

The menu will be revealed at the event only but to get a feel for the Chef's style check out the Facebook page from his food truck http://www.facebook.com/EatForkInTheRoad/photos_stream

Details:
Orlando ClandesDine #1
Saturday January 26, 2013
7:30pm - 11pm
Say It Loud, 1121 N. Mills Ave., Orlando, FL 32803
Admission: $75 per person
Menu: A five-course menu to be revealed at the event only.

Order tickets here:
http://clandesdinejan262013.eventbrite.com/

B&B Junction

B&B Junction is a new restaurant in the old 4 Rivers location on Fairbanks. Layout and seating is almost exactly the same as 4 Rivers was. I even think they have the same drink machine.

It just opened a few days ago. I went today and had a nice Pecan smoked bacon burger with onion jam, it was nice. I ordered it medium rare and it was cooked correctly. The bun tasted good with a nice crisp edge. The bacon was a tiny bit tough and I would have liked a generous amount of jam but I can order it that way next time.

I had a slice of the bread pudding with bacon caramel on top, it was kinda dry and they put a ton of caramel sauce on which is probably way too much for most people but I didn't mind.

They have a huge beer selection and wine too! No bud light thank god. B&B stands for Beers and Burgers.

Chili Daddy's Pop Up Restaurant at Fish On Fire

Chili Daddy's restaurant closed a while ago but lately he's been doing a few events here and there. This past weekend he made an arrangement with local restaurant Fish on Fire where they would serve his chili creations along with their normal menu. He made an impressive array of menu items, many were very creative. Here are some pics and the menu. Hoping he will do this again soon as it was a great experience.

Follow Chili Daddy on Facebook to find out about the next event. http://www.facebook.com/pages/Chili-Daddy/279003264929?ref=ts&fref=ts

Smoked Chicken Wing Chili Poutine from Chili Daddy, Smokey & bold served over crisp fries, topped w/ Bleu Cheese Crumbles

Ancho Chili Cheeseburger

Chili Flight - Mango Chicken, Texas Red, Pork Verde

Moon Pie

Brunch

I often questioned about where a good weekend or Sunday Brunch can be found in the Orlando area. I have a few places I like to go, but I turned to my Twitter followers and asked them their favorites, here are the suggestions I got.

OLV in Sodo has a great brunch with a DJ and indoor and outdoor seating and buffet. http://www.yelp.com/biz/olv-orlando

Stardust Coffee on Corrine Drive serves brunch Here is a menu: link

Orlando Family Style ‏@OrlandoFamStyle

 I like going to brunch by @LakeEolaPark so I can hit the market afterwards. Enjoyed @DextersTP @310Lakeside & SonomaDraught 

Brooklyn Mundo ‏@brainybrunette

  cafe perks in Sanford on 17-92! My personal greasy spoon:) 

Michelle Stewart ‏@lglastorl

The Virgin Olive Market, Houlihan's

Holly Boardman ‏@halehawk

The Briar Patch in Winter Park also serves a great breakfast any time of day.

Rosalinda Torres ‏@rosalindaPRgal

Dexter's is still a favorite, love their chicken and biscuits, and of course their mimosas. 

Isaac Larson ‏@IsaacLarson

Keke's and the Grand Bohemian. 

John Copella ‏@jcopella

White Wolf Cafe. 

another place that didn't get mentioned is Fresh Cafe in Winter park.  Check out the menu here: Menu

Also Cask & Larder has an amazing brunch. Check out a couple writeups from fellow bloggers:

Foodbidden, Droolius

Please feel free to contact us with other suggestions.

Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas

Thanksgiving Day Dining 2012 at Hilton Orlando via The Daily City Link
Tasty Chomps List Link
About.com extensive list Link
Visit Florida Blog List
Visit Orlando Blog Great list 
Open Table Link

The Chef's Table at The Edgewater Hotel Winter Garden

Recently I made the journey out to the cute downtown of Winter Garden to try a place I'd heard a lot of great things about The Chef's Table restaurant. I was so happy that all the great things I'd heard about the restaurant were true. It was a wonderful meal and experience in a classic setting.

When you first arrive the place looks like just a bar and normal restaurant but if you've reserved a chef's table experience you'll be escorted to the back past the sign that says "employees only" to a hidden dining room next to the kitchen. Depending on which table you get you'll be to view the chefs in the kitchen preparing your meal.

When I think of a kitchen environment in a restaurant I think of steam, fire and yelling, pots clanging, dishes being broken, this was not at all like that. It was a very calm and quiet experience.

Our server was very knowledgeable about the food and most of the details of the dishes, he had obviously cooked many of the dishes himself previously. He was very kind and friendly and accommodating to our every query and request. 

The 3 course meal($55 per person) was wonderful in every aspect and we opted for the additional cheese course($16 combined) which filled us up too much to finish dessert! There is also an optional wine pairing($23 per person).

The Foie Gras appetizer was rich and excellent, on top of a layer of cream and apples with a wonderful caramelized brulee topping, I couldn't get enough.

I also tried the Ahi Tuna Tartare appetizer which was Ceviche-like with mango salsa and spicy mayo served in a martini glass, great flavor as well. There was a superb mixture of flavors in the Tuna dish.

My main course was a mountain of pork, a huge bone in pork chop topped with pork belly and peaches on a bed of white bean Cassoulet.

Duo of Duck - Pan roasted duck breast, whole grain mustard spaetzle, red cabbage aigre doux, crispy duck leg confit, cornbread puree, pickled peach

Berry Mille Feuille - Frozen vanilla berry custard, blackberry vanilla compote

Here is a link to an article about the Chef's Table by Orlando Magazine http://www.orlandomagazine.com/Orlando-Magazine/December-2011/A-Hit-Spin-Off/

Winter Garden on Dwellable