Here are some quick tips for fun food events this week, including Chicagopalooza, the International Vegan Food Festival, and more.
The summer issue of Edible Orlando is hitting the stands in all the usual places, but why wait? The digital edition is available right now with a cover story about the emerging faces in the Orlando/Central Florida local food community. Wine or coffee, ramen or perogies, we’ve got you covered!
You come to EdibleOrlando.com because you know there’s always something delicious going on in Central Florida and you know Edible Orlando will have the lowdown. Edible Orlando writer John Graham has tracked down the best Orlando food events in the next two weeks.
Ongoing
The justly popular deep blu Seafood & Grille at Wyndham Grand Orlando Resort Bonnet Creek is evolving both its menu and the restaurant name. You might have noticed there’s now a “&” between seafood and grille, signifying an expansion beyond the “surf” side of the kitchen. A few new items coming in the next month include lamb ragu, seafood fra diavolo, and grilled ribeye with Bordelaise. Popular items staying include blu crab mac and cheese (at the top of the page), deep blu crab cake, ceviche, and blu grouper.
Friday, July 7-Sunday, July 9
À La Cart, the Milk District food truck park and beer bar, is going “Chicagopalooza” through Sunday night with resident trucks putting their spins on Second City classics, including Italian beef sandwiches, tavern-cut pepperoni and sausage pizza, Maxwell Street Polish sausages, and a poke-fied fish and rice version of deep-dish pizza. Of course, this Orlando food event will feature live Chicago blues and beers from the greater Chicagoland area will be on tap with proceeds from flights and select 4-packs donated to Chicago’s Urban Growers Collective.
Saturday, July 8
The pop-up restaurant MariaLina is popping into the Kitchen House at Edible Education Experience for “Chinchorreo,” a night of Puerto Rican street food, 6 – 9 p.m. (“Chinchorreo” means a night out at a restaurant eating and drinking with friends.) For $115 a person, you get a tapas-style, 10-course tasting menu with open bar and inside/outside seating.
Thursday, July 13
La Femme du Fromage is starting a new series of wine and (of course) cheese tastings upstairs at East End Market, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. As this first tasting falls on the night before Bastille Day, the focus is French cheeses paring with wines of Bordeaux, Burgundy, Champagne and more. La Femme du Fromage owner and head cheesemonger Tonda Corrente will take you through four pairings along with light bites. Tickets are $56.54 with tax and fees.
Saturday, July 15 
The International Vegan Food Festival is back at Downtown Orlando’s Wall Street Plaza, 3 – 8 p.m. The pet-friendly, outdoor Orlando food event has no admission charge, but, of course, you buy your plant-based food from food stalls with the option of paying for early admission and a VIP lounge with seating and a dedicated bartender. John Lewis, aka Badass Vegan, will be signing books, 4-6 p.m.
Sunday, July 16
Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream is celebrating National Ice Cream Day with a 50% discount from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. That’s scoops, sundaes, sorbets and milkshakes. Pints, quarts, and merch are not part of the deal. Featured July flavors include Cracker Jack, Double Bubble, Key Lime Pie, Cinnamon Crunch, and Reverse Ore-Dough (chocolate ice cream with Golden Oreos and dark chocolate cookie dough pieces). Click here for a list of participating locations.
Wednesday, July 19
We started with Chicago-style partying in the Milk District and we close out with it too. Sideward Brewing is teaming up with Stasio’s and Otto’s High Dive for a Hot Dog Day Block Party starting at 4 p.m. (Hot Dog Day is always the third Wednesday in July.) Stasio’s will be whipping up Italian beef sandwiches, Sideward will have a special menu of dawgs, and Otto’s will be pouring malört, the Chicago liquor that tastes a bit like Absorbine Jr. (They both use wormwood.)
