Did you know that Orlando has one of the most trendy and modern cuisine scenes in the country? We have a restaurant for every taste, every culture and every person that visits our city. We are diverse and unique, we are adventurous and carefree and we are willing to try anything.
To show off our incredible restaurant scene, Visit Orlando hosts Magical Dining Month and Yelp threw a biiiigggg party for their elite team at the Orange County Regional History Center. Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month started on Monday August 29th and runs through October 2nd. Over 90 restaurants are participating this year and a handful of those were on hand to showcase their food.
Each restaurant is offering a $33 three-course pre-fixe menu (though you do get to choose what goes on your plate usually among three choices for each course), with $1 from each meal being donated to The Russell Home for Atypical Children. This is a great opportunity to visit a restaurant that was maybe over your usual price range, or that you would maybe not visit on a normal evening.
For the kickoff party, we ate so much food I felt like I rolled right out of the History Center. We had two floors of amazing dishes- from the Bohemian Chicken Nicoise from Boheme Restaurant at the Grand Bohemian Hotel to the Five Spice Banana Cream Pie from Islands Dining Room at Universal’s Royal Pacific Resort.
I think Slate offered up my favorites of the night – first with the Seared Yellowfin Tuna with peanuts, pineapple and avocado……
….then I loved their Chocolate & Coffee Pot de Crème.
I enjoyed watching the staff from The Kitchen (Hard Rock Hotel)whip up their mushroom ragout as an accompaniment to grilled pork chops…..
….and I loved the Kikono Restaurant’s plate of Salmon Tartare Apera, Chirashi Sushi Style Ceviche and a Blood Sausage Deviled Egg.
Desserts of course were abundant and besides the previously mentioned delights, we enjoyed the Coconut Flan from the Amatista Cookhouse at the newly opened Sapphire Falls Resort at Universal…..
….and the beautiful Orange Crema Catalana from Tapa Toro at the I-Drive 360 complex (where the Orlando Eye is located). Tapa Toro was set up in the old courtroom of Orlando’s yesteryear. Next to them was a fully stocked bar from Cocktails Catering – how many people can say they had a drink in a courtroom? We had music from DJ Nigel John and Fretless Rock.
And as with any Yelp event, there were party hats and silly pictures. So much fun. I am so honored and thrilled to be a part of Yelp’s Orlando Elite Squad, there are so many amazing events we get to experience and share, including this kickoff party. So go over to Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month website, check out the menus and start making reservations!! The event is citywide and ends October 2nd. Where are you going??
Helen Corbin
Thursday 1st of September 2016
If we lived there, I would be RIGHT THERE :-) It all looks so good.
Sharon Walsh
Thursday 1st of September 2016
WOW, it all sounds wonderful. Will definitely be checking site to see what restaurants are participating & such a worthy charity to benefit also.