Here are some quick tips for food and fun in Orlando, including Brews Around the Zoo, Corks and Forks, Science of Wine, and more.
We’ve still got a couple weeks until Florida sweet corn floods the supermarkets, but there’s still Florida strawberries coming in as well as pickling cucumbers and cabbage. From the Edible Orlando recipe archive, here’s a cabbage recipe with a soul food spin from Shantell’s in Sanford – chicken with cabbage – or as Shantell’s family calls it around the house, “chick-cabba.”
Edible Orlando writer John Graham keeps track of all the fun food events around Central Florida, sorts out the good stuff, and brings you the lowdown right here for the next couple of weeks.
Saturday, April 13
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Brews Around the Zoo is back at the Central Florida Zoo. Leave the kids at home for an open-air night of live music with 15 beer stations and more 30 different craft beers, wines, and hard seltzers. New this year is a Tasting Trail Pass that adds access to five food-tasting options. Passes start at $50 per person, $75 with the tasting, and $87 for all that and a light-up mug. VIP and early bird options are extra. Proceeds benefit the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens.
The Edison at Disney Springs has set aside Saturday afternoon for whiskey lovers. Whiskey and Wonders starts at noon, a walkaround event featuring eight whiskey stations matched with food or a demo or something extra. Among the options are a single-malt American whiskey with The Edison’s signature clothesline bacon, a barrel-aged Boulevardier cocktail with carnitas tostadas, and a nitro Irish coffee draft with tiramisu push-pop. Tickets start at $75 with the option for a $40 “luxury station” with a spherified black Manhattan with A5 Wagyu beef and Hokkaido scallop. VIP passes at $90 include guaranteed seating and early admission, but the luxury station is still an add-on.
Slurpee lovers, it’s Bring Your Own Cup Day at 7-Eleven and Speedway. Bring a YETI or Stanley, a bucket, or a motorcycle helmet. As long as your “cup” fits upright through the store’s 10-inch display cutout, you can fill it with Slurpee for $1.99 one time today. (After all, your cup has to fit under the Slurpee dispenser nozzle.) They also ask your “cup” be clean, watertight, and leak-proof.
Monday, April 15
Jaleo at Disney Springs is celebrating the gin and tonic with a festival, now through April 28, by adding a few extra versions to the menu. The “appetizer” is made with Fords Gin, Cynar (a bitter apéritif), lavender, lemon and tonic. The “saints” is Tanqueray, ginger, elderflower, aloe vera, and tonic.
Thursday, April 18
We’re in the season for “taste of” outdoor events around town and here comes Corks & Forks to Maitland’s Venue on Lake Lily, starting at 6 p.m. Around 20 local restaurants are participating, along with breweries, wine shops, and liquor distributors. This year’s live entertainment is Orlando-based country band, Jill’s Cashbox. General admission tickets are $71.21 (after fees) and $135.23 for VIP with early admission.
Saturday, April 20
As always, the big Earth Day event in Orlando is held by Vegetarians of Central Florida. That’s in Lake Eola Park, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. In addition to vegan chef demos and vegan food venders, the free event includes live music, yoga and meditation sessions, a kids zone, and more.
The Cheba Hut chain specializes in marijuana-themed, but weed-free, “toasted” sub sandwiches. The Orlando location is near UCF. Since it’s 4-20 (get it?), all Cheba Hut locations nationwide will be selling four-inch “nug” sandwiches for $4.20. You’ll also get a free Cheba Hut 4-20 branded flying disc with any Nug sandwich purchased. Sideward Brewing is also celebrating 4-20 with specials from the meat “smoker,” the release of three specialty canned beers, and limited-time merch.
Remember how it’s the season for outdoor “taste of” nights? Here’s one in Sanford that’s conveniently at lunchtime. The second annual Taste & Sip of Sanford is 12 – 4 p.m. at the Sanford Civic Center. The Picnic Project and Historic Downtown Sanford are bringing in more than a dozen local restaurants paired with local craft beer, California wine, and live music. The Picnic Project programs include a weekly food share and resource hub, emergency food pantry, mobile pantry events, food rescue, and community health initiatives.
Monday, April 22
Check out the lineup of local chefs for Edible Education Experience’s “A Spring Soirée”: Kevin Fonzo (EEE), Lo Lalicon (Kaya), Wendy Lopez (Reyes Mezcaleria), Jamie McFadden (Cuisiniers), Ian Russell (Smoke & Donuts), Fabrizio Schenardi (Four Seasons Resort Orlando), and Maria Mercado (Sampaguita Ice Cream). Starting at 6 p.m., your $275 ticket gets you a welcome cocktail, beer, or wine and a six-course dining experience.
Thursday, April 25
For one night, Orlando is home to the fanciest McDonald’s around as local chefs turn Mickey D ingredients into fine dining for the Appetite for the Arches benefit, 7 – 10 p.m. at the Canvas Event Venue. Between bites, you can sample wines and craft cocktails. If that’s not enough, you’ll also get a McDonald’s French fry station with handcrafted dipping sauces. Tickets for the cocktail-attire evening start at $195, or $375 for two, with a $250 option for early entry. Restaurants cooking at Appetite for the Arches include Pizza Bruno, Morimoto Asia, Millenia Catering, Space 220, Orlando World Center Marriott, The Pinery, Kelly’s Homemade Ice Cream, Tamale Co. Mexican Street Food, Cholo Dogs, and Enzo’s Hideaway. The three Ronald McDonald Houses in Orlando are a home-away-from-home for families with children receiving treatment at local hospitals.
Friday, April 26
Why go to Camping World Stadium for a concert or soccer match when you can go to just eat and drink? Starting at 7 p.m., the Sideline Wine & Dine event has more than 50 local food and beverage vendors taking over the stadium’s premium areas. Tickets start at $115 with a VIP early entry option for $150. The night supports the Florida Citrus Sports Foundation with proceeds going toward continued K-8 educational efforts in the nearby neighborhoods.
Over at Universal Orlando, the twice-a-year Jake’s Beer Festival returns, 6-9 p.m., outdoors at Loews Royal Pacific Resort. The Wantilan Pavilion will include around 50 craft and specialty beers, along with small bites and live entertainment. Who’s Jake? Jake McNally is a fictional explorer, owner of Jake’s American Bar, and pilot of the seaplane in the resort lagoon.
Saturday, April 27
Sip, savor and support the mission of Orlando Science Center! From 7-10 p.m., uncork your inner sommelier, and scientist, at the 10th annual Science of Wine presented by Southern Glazer’s Wines and Spirits. The Science of Wine is not just another wine tasting, but an oenological odyssey with presentations on multiple aspects of wine growing and wine tasting as well as the opportunity to sample more than 150 fine wines from the world’s most important wine regions and some of the best food from your favorite region, Central Florida! Tickets are $110 for members and young professionals, and $135 for all other 21+ folks. Buy 10 and get a $35-discount on the general admission price!
For more inspiration, visit our archives.
