Here are some quick tips for fun food events this week, including 4th of July, Flavors of Florida, and more.
July 4th, American Independence Day, is coming up fast and we always think back to family cookouts with barbecue and burgers and those whipped cream cakes with blueberry stars and strawberry stripes. If you’re looking to spice up your burgers this year, we asked around and suggest you try topping one with spinach dip – or bacon and brie – or a spoon of pesto. If you leave the cooking to others, here’s our list of the best burgers around.
Edible Orlando writer John Graham is always searching the local food scene for the best fun around Central Florida. Here’s what’s ahead in the next couple weeks including a mini guide for July 4th.
Saturday, June 24
The Fire on the Lake Festival is back with an International Chili Society-sanctioned cookoff at Lake Wales’ 
Camp Mack, a Guy Harvey Lodge, Marina & RV Resort. Chili can be traditional red, homestyle, or verde with adult and youth team awards and side categories for salsa and People’s Choice chili. Public tastings will be 1 – 3:30 p.m. with awards at 5 p.m. The day also includes live music and a $30 entry Jeep rally.
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. will have its last crawfish boil of the season, 4 – 9 p.m., with Ragin’ Cajun Crawfish Florida boiling 120 pounds of mudbugs at $16.99 a pound with discounts for three pounds ($41.99) or five ($69.99) with corn and potatoes. They’ll even have a to-go option.
Sunday, June 25
The Georgia peach crop hasn’t been great this year because of warm winter weather, but in a last-minute announcement, The Peach Truck is coming through Central Florida on Sunday for both walk-ups and advance orders. A ten-pound box of Georgia or South Carolina peaches is $38 and the truck will be stopping at West Oaks Mall in Ocoee, Oviedo Mall, and Seminole Towne Center in Sanford.
Saturday, July 1
Disney Springs Flavors of Florida is back through August 
13 with restaurants adding Sunshine State-inspired drinks, entrees, and desserts to the menu. Tastes include the Sunshine State of Mind pudding (cake) at Raglan Road (pictured), Cedar Key clams “Chow Fun” at Morimoto Asia, and Key West pink shrimp ceviche with smoked melon and shishito peppers at The Polite Pig. New to the summer event is a weekly culinary series featuring chefs such as José Andrés and Art Smith. There’s no admission charge to Disney Springs, but you need to register for the culinary series events.
Lake Nona’s Great American Block Party in Town Center, 2 – 10 p.m., will be judging pies and shoveling hot wings. If you’re a pie baker, bring your best between 2 and 3 p.m. with judging at 4 p.m. All pies must be from scratch, require no refrigeration (no dairy or cream pies), and you must be present to win. Park Pizza will have a two-minute hot wing eating contest at 7 p.m. You’ll get all the rules when you pay the advance $30.37 entry fee. The Lake Nona Great American Block Party also includes a parade, food and drink for purchase, live music, and parachute jumpers at 8: 30 p.m.
Tuesday, July 4
The AdventHealth July 4th Watermelon 5k starts at 7:30 a.m. in Winter Park’s Central Park with the traditional ice-cold watermelon slices at the finish. Entry fee is $38 in advance or $43 on race day. Awards are at 8 a.m., watermelon-eating contest at 8:30, and free kid’s run at 8:45. Runners also get a tank top and towel.
Celebrate Independence Day with free pancakes in Windermere! You can bring your own extra toppings, but from 9 – 11 a.m. at Town Hall, the city is giving away pancakes, butter, syrup, sausage, and drinks to the public until it all runs out. Once you’re sated, stop by the 1887 School House for a tour given by the Historic Preservation Board. 
If you want to stage your own personal hot dog eating contest, TooJay’s Deli can help. On July 4, locations will have a $19.99 All You Can Eat Deli Dogs special, dine-in only, with all-beef franks topped with options including sauerkraut; bacon and cheddar; or pastrami, coleslaw and homestyle Russian dressing. You can also just get one $5.99 Deli Dog with French fries, dine in or to go, but toppings will be extra.
If you’re looking to try something more than hot dogs or hamburgers for July 4, check out this collection of Independence Day recipes from our archives. We’ve got a maple-bourbon cocktail, coffee rub for a big steak, dressed fried green tomatoes, and Key lime pie!
