Here are some quick tips for fun food events in Orlando this week including Christmas, New Year’s Eve and a kids’ cooking camp.
We’ve got to cover both Christmas and New Year’s Eve in this column, so let’s get started! Champagne is the traditional tipple for January 31, but we like it on the Christmas dinner table too. A little sparkle can cut through some of the heavy side dishes, and it works with just about any entrée. Let’s dig back into the Edible Orlando archives for some advice on picking the right bottle.
As 2023 winds down and 2024 approaches, Central Florida chefs and restaurateurs are working to fill the local food scene with fun food events. Edible Orlando writer John Graham has the headlines on what you shouldn’t miss in the next couple weeks.
Saturday, Dec. 23 
The not-no-kosher Deli Desires is teaming up again with the Chinese food pop-up Little Giant for “Giant Desires” – a mash-up menu that goes from 7 a.m. (early this year) until the kitchen runs out of food. The official menu includes “krab” rangoon bialys, a couple’s desire sandwich (soy-braised beef tendon in a sweet and spicy chili oil topped with herb salad, magic peanuts, and pâté on a challah bun), and hakka latke (ginger-scallion latke on a sesame bun with Zhenjiang vinegar mayo, egg, American cheese and lap cheong sausage).
Primo, the Italian (and Michelin recommended) restaurant at Grande Lakes Orlando has a Feast of the Seven Fishes menu now through Christmas Day, 5:30 – 10 p.m. A la cart menu options include rock crab arancini, tuna carpaccio, oysters oreganata, cioppino bianco, and chittaro Nero with Florida rock shrimp. Four Flamingos at Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress is also offering Feast of the Seven Fishes menu specials through Christmas Day, including king crab legs, bucatini carbonara with swordfish belly bacon, and Crostini di Scungilli.
Monday, Dec. 25
Don’t feel like cooking on Christmas? Plenty of restaurants around town will do it for you. JW Marriott Orlando Bonnet Creek has a brunch buffet and a couple prix fixe dinner options. Rosen Centre, Rosen Plaza, and Rosen Shingle Creek will all have buffets. At Four Seasons Resort Orlando, Ravello will be open for a late lunch and dinner buffet and Capa will offer several menu specials, including roast suckling pig.
Other options open on Christmas Day include Columbia Restaurant, Toojay’s, Café Tu Tu Tango, and Hash House a Go Go.
Thursday, Dec. 28
Back at Four Flamingos, in-house mixologist Kat Gallardo will lead a bartending class, 4 – 5 p.m., where you’ll have a couple cocktails and bar snacks, learn to clarify alcohol, and build your own cocktail. The class is $71.21 per person and tickets go on sale online that day.
Sunday, Dec. 31 
It’s New Year’s Eve and you want to celebrate with food, not just sparkling wine, a noisemaker, and a funny hat. Here are just a few of the options out there. Tori Tori on Mills50 usually doesn’t take reservations, but the NYE package includes elevated light bites, open bar (wells, select draft beers, and house wines/champagne), DJ Ricky Rico, and champagne toast with balloon drop at midnight. Tickets are $150 a person plus fees and tax.
Also in Mills50, Bites & Bubbles will have a prix fixe menu with seatings between 5 – 10 p.m. Options include oysters Rockefeller, escargot, holiday salad, osso buco, seabass, duck confit, and dessert.
The Osprey in Baldwin Park is offering multiple seatings for a five-course tasting menu that will take around two hours – including Alaskan king crab, caviar, Wagyu beef cheek, and more. That’s $150 a person.
The Alfond Inn will keep you busy all night, starting with a champagne and caviar reception in the conservatory at 6: 30 p.m., transitioning to a plated dinner in the ballroom at 8:30 p.m., dancing with live music by The Buzzcatz, and a champagne toast at midnight followed by desserts and aperitifs in the café. Cocktail attire required and you must be 21+. Admission is $375 a person plus taxes and fees.
In Pointe Orlando, Cuba Libre is ringing in 2024 with a NYE buffet dinner and late-night dance party For $125 per person plus taxes, fees, and three percent surcharge, you get the dinner, champagne toast, DJ, dancing, party favors, all non-alcoholic beverages, and the option to keep your table all night. Earlier dinner reservations are also available as well as admission to just the dance party.
Monday, January 1
If you’re up and alert after NYE, The Kitchen at Hard Rock Hotel Orlando is doing an acoustic brunch, 7 a.m. – 2 p.m. We’re talking shrimp cocktail, cheese and charcuterie, the breakfast classics, made-to-order pancakes and omelets and eggs Benedict, beef, chicken, fish, and desserts. The meal is $49 plus tax and tip for adults and $19 for kids 3-9.
Thursday, January 4
Edible Education Experience will keep the kids busy for you, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m., with a day camp focusing on New Year’s Day traditions around the world. For $95, your kid will get hands-on in the Kitchen House and Culinary Garden for the seed-to-table day camp and come home with new recipes to try for you.
For more inspiration, visit our archives.
