Here are some quick tips for fun food events in Orlando this week including pop-ups, a gingerbread class, and beer.
The perfect food? Tamales come pretty close. They can be meaty or vegan, sweet or spicy, a cozy dinner for two or giant pans to feed a family reunion. Check out the latest print edition of Edible Orlando for where to get amazing tamales around Central Florida when you feel like leaving the cooking to someone else.
You can pick up a free copy of Edible Orlando in all the usual places, and if you’re in West Orange County, check your issue for Health & Harvest with Healthy West Orange – or click on the link.
The Orlando food scene has so many opportunities for food fun around Orlando that you might need help keeping track of it all. Edible Orlando writer John Graham is here to help!
Saturday, Oct. 14
Ivanhoe Park Brewing Company is celebrating its fifth anniversary by inviting around 50 other breweries to the party at Gaston Edwards Park just off Lake Ivanhoe, 1- 5 p.m. They’re calling it Return to Joyland Invitational Beer Fest because that site was where you’d find the Joyland amusement park in the early 1900s. Expect new beers, live music, food trucks, and unlimited beer pours. General admission tickets are $55 plus taxes and fees. VIP is $75.
Monday, Oct. 16 
D&G Occasions is bringing in award-winning gingerbread artist Pat Ashley Howard (Food Network, HGTV, Travel Channel) for a five-day intensive gingerbread house workshop. Skill level for the class is beginner to intermediate and you’ll learn everything from design and construction to detail work including gelatin windows, brick walkways, hedges, fences, snow and more. Cost for the five-day class is $495 and you’ll take home all recipes, a gingerbread house pattern/template, and a completed display-ready gingerbread house.
Tuesday, Oct. 17
The Polite Pig at Disney Springs will stage an Oktoberfest edition of its the Polite Experience dinners on both Tuesday and Wednesday at 6 p.m. The night of food and beer pairings is hosted by Master Brewer Larry Foor from Ravenous Pig Brewing Co. The four-course meal will include a duck confit “strudel,” venison chop, schweinshaxe (pork shank with spätzle and weinkraut), and black forest cake. Tickets are $125 with tax and tip included.
Wednesday, Oct. 18
Tickets are going fast for the fall edition of Winter Park Wine & Dine, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m., at the Winter Park Farmers’ Market Building. You’ll sample from around 40 local restaurants and dessert bakers as well as beer, wine and liquor suppliers. General admission tickets start at $75 plus taxes and fees for individual advance sales with VIP and early-entrance options too. The night’s Charity Partner is Park Avenue Title Military Scholarship via Rollins College.
Friday, Oct. 20 
Chefs from two Michelin-recognized restaurants are teaming for a pop-up dinner, starting at 6 p.m., inside Michelin-recommended Sear + Sea Woodfire Grill at JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek Resort & Spa. Sear + Sea’s own Chef de Cuisine Peter Cox is welcoming in Chef de Cuisine Joshua Werksman from Michelin-starred Lilac in Tampa. Expect wine pairings and a combo of signature dishes from both locations including grilled Scottish sea langoustine with saffron risotto and Moulard Magret duck breast with braised cabbage. Tickets for the night are $255.00 plus tax and tip.
Wild Fork, the Winter Park gourmet meat and seafood market, is throwing a customer appreciation day party, 3 – 6 p.m. That means free food samples from the shop’s chefs, live music, and family activities.
Crooked Can Brewery in Winter Garden is kicking off three days of Oktoberfest on Friday. That’s seasonal beers (of course), food from the stalls at Plant Street Market, stein-holding contests, the Brussels Sprouts Oktoberfest Band, the Schulplattler Gruppe Alpenrose Dancers, and wiener dog races. Check back with Crooked Can for event days and times.
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