Great Dates Orlando

If you like wine dinners…

… you’ll be psyched to hear about these upcoming foodie events:

Silver Oak/Twomey Wine Dinner
The Oceanaire Seafood Room 
Friday January 20 at 7:00 p.m. 
$100 per person, plus tax and gratuity.
For more information, call 407-363-4801.

Perfect Pairing Winemaker Dinner
Old Hickory Steakhouse at the Gaylord Palms
Tuesday, January 24 at 7:00 pm
$90 per person, plus tax and service charge. Complimentary valet parking included.
Doors will open early at 6:30 pm for a welcome reception
.
Join Don Hartford, owner of Hartford Family Winery in Sonoma, as he teams with Old Hickory Steakhouse Executive Chef Paul Player to present a three-course menu perfectly paired with wine from the Hartford Family Winery. 
Reservations are limited, so reserve your space early by calling 407-586-0701.

Rosen Centre Vine & Dine Presents "An Evening in Oregon"
Everglades Restaurant at Rosen Centre
Friday January 27 at 7:00 p.m.
$65.00 plus tax and gratuity.
Enjoy an "Evening in Oregon" with Jesse Lange, general manager/winemaker of the award-winning Lange Estates Winery in Willamette Valley, Oregon. Lovers of food and wine can enjoy a five-course feast with each course paired to perfection. 
Call (407) 996-9840 to register.

So... how many date nights do you go on every month and what are your favorite places for QT in Orlando? Leave a comment on my Facebook page. I'd love to hear from you. 

QT at the Orlando Farmer’s Market

Sunday is as good a day as any for some QT with your main squeeze and if the weather is fine then I recommend heading to the Orlando Farmer’s Market at Lake Eola. I hadn’t been to this el fresco shindig in a while and rumor had it the market has started to burst at the seams with eclectic and delicious vendors selling their fare. 

For once, the rumor mill was right. There are now about three dozen food, craft and art purveyors tucked into the southeast corner of Lake Eola Park at the corner of Central Boulevard and Eola Drive. 

Want to know how to make this one of your best date days ever? 

Bring $40 and eat everything! 

I’m talking kettle corn, gourmet cheeses, empanadas, roasted pecans, crepes, funnel cakes, sausages, beef jerky, smoothies, corn dogs, freshly baked bread, veggie chips, grilled corn on the cob, Italian ice, freshly-squeezed lemonade, cappuccinos, cupcakes, and hummus.

And when you’re done, wash it all down with an organic beer supplied by Orlando Brewing. Or maybe a mimosa? The wine and beer garden in the center of the market opens at noon.

The acoustic music starts shortly thereafter with live players like Hindu Cowboy’s Joseph Martens strumming tunes under the shade of a giant oak tree. 

The Orlando Farmer’s Market runs every Sunday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  

P.S. For a real treat, head to Hue, located a block away in Thornton Park. Hue serves up a stellar Sunday brunch (plus a DIY Bloody Mary bar) starting at 11 a.m.

P.S.S Are you following me on Twitter? If not, you're missing out on sooooo many more great date night ideas. 

JW Marriott Launches New Cooking School Series

I’m so over cooking. Thanks to years of monotonous meal making, I have about as much enthusiasm for food prep as I do for a trip to the dentist (no offence Dr. Montijo).

Sadly, my dinner duties aren’t going anywhere any time soon, so this year I’ve added “get excited about cooking again” to my list of new year’s resolutions. And I’m going to drag my hubby along for the ride and make revamping our cuisine part of our weekly date night adventures.

My very first foodie facelift will take place at the JW Marriott, which just launched a new cooking school series. Perfect timing!

During the first six monthly classes of 2012, budding gourmands can dive into pasta making lessons, experience romantic Valentine’s feasts, dig their hands into the hotel’s onsite vegetable garden, and learn how to brew their own beer.

Classes take place in either PRIMO or Citron, both at the JW Marriott, and range from $45 to $70 per person.

Here is what’s on deck for the coming months:

Saturday, January 14 - Pasta Making
Saturday, February 11 –Valentine’s Day Night
Saturday, March 17- Charcuterie
Saturday, April 7 – PRIMO Garden Ventures
Saturday, May 12- Whole Hog Cookery “Pigg’n Out”
Saturday, June 9 – Beer Making

For more information and to register, call 407-393-4683 or visit www.grandelakes.com/JW-Griffin-Cooking-School-170.html

Dinner at The Table... A Foodie Adventure

Maybe it's me, but I think that the massive explosion of social media sites and apps have revealed an intrinsic characteristic of our culture... we are all craving connection. Which is why the classic supper club is suddenly poised for a major revival.

Part dinner party, part chef’s table, supper clubs are popping up in cities all over the country, capitalizing on a trend that is quickly reaching craze status. The concept is simple: one communal table, 10 to 20 preregistered strangers and a multi-course mystery menu that’s not usually revealed until arrival. Add to that frequent visits to the dining room by the chef during this 3 to 4 hour feast and you’ve got an evening you won’t soon forget.

Don’t think for a second a foodie adventure like this is only found in big cities like NYC and Chicago. Nope… just drive to Sand Lake Road where you’ll find The Table, Orlando’s newest supper club dining spot and one of the coolest restaurants to hit this town in a very long time.

A few weeks ago, my husband and I joined 18 other fearless foodies inside The Table’s lavish dining room located a few doors down from Cantina Laredo. We were treated to champagne and apps when we arrived at 7 p.m., followed by 5 unbelievably delicious courses all paired with wine. Chef Loren wandered out of the kitchen as each new course was presented to share some details about the food while her husband, Tyler, kept our wine glasses full and chatted with guests about his wine choices for the evening.

Four hours later, we had very full tummies plus a few new friends. I loved it. It’s not dinner; it’s an event.

To try this experience, you need to make a reservation and pay the $100 per person fee in advance. Sure, that might seem a little steep to some, but when you consider it includes 5 courses plus 5 wine pairings plus tax and gratuity, it’s actually quite a deal.

What you’ll love too is that when you’re at The Table, you’re treated like family. The dinner party vibe Loren and Tyler have created gives diners the sense that they’ve just been invited to an exclusive occasion that only the most interesting and amiable people are allowed to attend. And trust me, everyone gets interesting and amiable after five glasses of wine. I can’t wait to go again!

The Table
8060 Via Dellagio Way, Suite 106
Orlando, FL 32819
Reservations: 407-900-Dine
www.thetableorlando.com

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Pssst.... we're tweeting an additional 30+ Orlando date night ideas each week on Twitter. Make sure you're following @Gr8DatesOrlando

Follow @Gr8DatesOrlando

 

Battle of the Parks... this Sunday

Food Network addicts will love this weekend's Battle of the Parks when three of Orlando's top chefs will compete in a mystery box cookoff. The event, which will be emceed by Scott Joseph, will be held at Sonoma Draught House at 100 S. Eola Ave. in downtown Orlando. Along with the live iron chefesque entertainment, they'll be food and wine pairings provided by Sonoma, 310 Restaurants, HUE, the Ravenous Pig and K. The winner will be determined by a panel of judges including Orlando Sentinel's Heather McPherson and Ted Edwards, winemaker for Freemark Abbey in Napa Valley.

Battle of the Parks
Sunday Nov. 6 from 1-5 p.m.
Sonoma Draught House 100 S. Eola Ave.
Click here for more info.

 

The Revival of the Supper Club

You're going to see me writing a lot about supper clubs in the coming months. They are my new favorite thing. This new dining trend combines the classic supper club concept with the intimacy of a small dinner party. Details like what's on the menu and who's on the guest list are totally out of your control, but for epicurean adventurers, that's actually the best part. These communal dining experiences give foodies the chance to try new nosh and meet new friends often in a cool or unusual setting.

Orlando restaurant guru Scott Joseph recently launched his series of supper clubs, which will move around the city throughout the year. His next event on October 26th is already sold out. In fact, all of his supper clubs have sold out so far. But he schedules them regularly so if you get on his email list, you'll be quick to be in the know. 

Visit Scott's website to get on his list and for more details on his upcoming events. 

 

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Pssst.... we're tweeting an additional 30+ Orlando date night ideas each week on Twitter. Make sure you're following @Gr8DatesOrlando

Follow @Gr8DatesOrlando

 

Lake Lily Food Truck Pod

Eeeek, it's been a touch too long since my last date night idea was posted. Truth is, raising two little girls often gets in the way of date night. Before we had kids, everyone warned me that my husband and I would experience a date night decline. Being the die-hard optimist that I am, I didn't believe them. But alas, nearly three years into parenthood and our QT has gone from a weekly to a monthly occurrence. 

But let's not throw out the baby with the bath water... even one date night a month is better than none. So, I'm back with renewed commitment. And if you ever see more than a 2 week lag between postings, you have my permission to send me an email scolding. 

Without further adieu, here is your latest date night idea...

Head to Maitland's Lake Lily every Tuesday night from 6pm - 9pm for some sidewalk snacking courtesy of several Orlando-area food trucks. The truck pod that gathers here each week usually includes The Crooked Spoon, Yum Yum Cupcake Truck, Korean BBQ Taco Box, Tree House Truck and a handful more. Bring a blanket (tables and chairs are scarce) and park a squat lakeside with your sweetie and some creative nosh. The daring will even smuggle in some wine.

For more info and to read some great reviews of this weekly event, visit www.yelp.com/biz/maitland-food-truck-pod-maitland.

Happy food trucking!

Cheese and Wine Class Experience

On Wednesday, May 18 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Le Rouge Wine Bar & Tapas will present Tonda's Kitchen Wine & Cheese Class Experience, a sampling of wine and cheese from around the world. 

$25pp. Call to reserve: 407.370.0909

www.lerougewinebar.com

 

Monthly Wine Lounge at Whole Foods Winter Park

On the last Friday of every month, Whole Foods in Winter Park presents its WINE & BEER LOUNGE, an evening of gourmet wine and food pairings that won't break the bank. For just $10/pp, couples can sample several different wines and beers while nibbling delicious and wholesome fare. These events are scheduled between 6pm and 9pm and are often enhanced with live music and fun activities. Hang around afterward to get a jump on your weekend grocery shop... the store is open until 10pm!

For more information call 407.673.8788 or visit www.wholefoodsmarket.com/winterpark

 

Culinary Canvas

Nothing inspires your inner Picasso like a charming setting and a glass of vino. Unleash the artist within at Culinary Canvas, a twice-monthly event that allows budding painters to enjoy nibblies and wine while an artist guides guests through creating their own masterpiece.

Classes are held every other Tuesday @ 6pm at Harmoni Market in Longwood.

The painting class fee of $30 includes a 16x20 canvas ready to hang, all paint supplies and instruction from the artist. 

Come early to have dinner and drinks… Harmoni’s menu features delish Mediterranean cuisine including fabulous flat breads. www.harmonimarket.com

Need more info:
EMAIL: culinary.canvas@yahoo.com

BLOG: http://culinarycanvas.blogspot.com/