Here are some quick tips for fun food events in Orlando this week including piroshky, a rib cook-off and a fishing festival.
Between allergies and the ever-changing weather, we’ve been drinking a bit of tea with honey. Digging back into the Edible Orlando archives, Florida honey is both a big business and a cottage industry with the number of registered beekeepers on the rise. Maybe try a Hop Fruit Fizz, a cocktail recipe that ties together both Florida honey and Florida grapefruit.
Now that we’re through Christmas and New Year’s Day, are you ready for the week ahead? Every two weeks, Edible Orlando writer John Graham goes over the upcoming foodie items you shouldn’t miss and picks out the best bets.
Tuesday, Jan. 9 
Piroshky Piroshky is popular in Seattle for baking Russian handpies filled with everything from turkey and cranberry to beef and cheese. Ivanhoe Park Brewing is hosting a special event, 5 – 7 p.m., to pick up pre-orders from Piroshky Piroshky’s travelling bakery, but you must get that pre-order in by Sunday, Jan. 7.
Thursday, Jan. 11
Author Maria C. Palmer is coming to Diane’s Tea Room in Kissimmee, 6- 8 p.m., for a “cook ‘n’ book” class based on her novel, On the Rocks. The book is a novelized memoir of her father’s life – Joseph Costanzo, Jr. – a Pittsburgh restauranteur who also spent time in federal prison. Maria will share the recipe and techniques for ricotta gnocchi and marinara sauce as well as anecdotes and stories from The Primadonna restaurant. With taxes and fees, the class is $93.75. White Rose Books & More will also be selling Maria’s book that you can get personalized and signed.
Saturday, Jan. 13
Ten10 Brewing, between Mills50 and Lake Ivanhoe, is hosting its seventh annual Rib Fest cook-off, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m. The brewery is still working out the details at press time, but in the past, teams set up out back and get to cooking while the Subtropic Saint kölsch flows up front.
The Get Hook’d on Lake Monroe Fishing Contest and Seafood Festival returns to downtown Sanford on Saturday, 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. That’s good news whether you prefer catching bass and crappie or noshing on shrimp. To compete in the tournament, you must attend the captains’ meeting at Celery City Craft at 6 p.m. on Friday. The rest of us can just show up, noon – 6 p.m., and eat. Centered around historic downtown Sanford, the festival includes both food trucks and local restaurants as well an outdoor stage. After the tournament awards ceremony, The Supervillains play for free at The West End Trading Co.
We don’t get to talk much about classes at Lineage Coffee Roasting because they fill up so fast, but there are still spaces left for “Cupping and your Palate,” 9 a.m. – 3 p.m. at the Winter Park roastery Cupping is basically how to taste coffee in a professional way for elements such as sweetness, acidity, and mouthfeel. The class emphasizes palate development and tasting methods and exercises. Complete the $180 day and you get a Lineage Certificate of Achievement and a bag of coffee.
Tuesday, Jan. 16
Got your winter whites ready? Cooper’s Hawk Winery on I-Drive is hosting a Gilded Winter Soiree, 7 – 10 p.m., where you’re asked to stick to a white and gold wardrobe. A Wine Club event, the menu includes an icewine starter, pretzel bread with butter, Chardonnay paired with cavatelli with sausage and garlic cream, Vin Veloute paired with grilled flatiron steak with potatoes and sherry-glazed mushroom sauce, and sticky toffee pudding and vanilla ice cream with almond sparkling wine. Tickets are $69.
Wednesday, Jan. 17
There are still a few spots left at deadline if you want to learn to make a healthy and hearty breakfast with cookbook author (and former Edible Orlando editor) Katie Farmand at the Center for Health & Wellbeing in Winter Park, 6 – 7:30 p.m. In the CHWB Nutrition Theater, you’ll make and sample spinach-feta mini omelets, savory steel-cut oats, and apple-cinnamon oatmeal cups. Tickets are $35.
Thursday, Jan. 18 
Orange Blossom Brewing is teaming with FastBreak, the sports bar inside the Hilton Orlando, for a beer pairing dinner, 6:30 – 8 p.m. The courses haven’t been announced yet, but OBB beers include City Beautiful IPA, Orange Blossom Pilsner, and double-strength OBP Squared. With taxes and fees, the dinner is $81.88 per person.
For more inspiration, visit our archives.
