Fun Food Events for May 27-June 9

As we head into the long Memorial Day weekend, you might be looking to venture beyond your neighborhood bubble for a meal on the town. Check out Edible Orlando’s Destination Dining Guide for everything from Greek lamb to Louisiana gumbo to Indian kebabs to straight-up overloaded hot dogs and smashburgers.

Edible Orlando writer John Graham is always on the hunt for the best fun food events in the local food scene around Orlando and Central Florida. Head to EdibleOrlando.com for the full story, but here come the headlines for the best stuff in the next couple weeks or so.

Knife & Spoon at Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes is celebrating a second year with a one-star rating in the Michelin Guide by adding a four-course prix fixe menu, now through June 17. Chef de cuisine Tyler Kineman has planned a menu with options including six local oysters or hamachi crudo, garden salad or peach and ricotta salad, whole fish with nước chấm butter emulsion or a one-pound prime NY strip (both with local mushrooms and vegetables), and Grand Cru Chocolate (dark chocolate mousse with raspberry, ganache, and bergamot cloud) or The Apple (apple chutney, almond chocolate crunch, and lychee sorbet. The meal is $180 per person or $90 more if you add wine pairings.

Monday marks Memorial Day, the unofficial start of summer cookouts, like those tasty frankfurters up top. More importantly, it’s also a federal holiday for recognizing United States military personnel who gave their lives to serve our country.

I-Drive’s Café Tu Tu Tango is extending its Saturday and Sunday Bottomless Brunch into Memorial Day Monday, 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. For $32 a person, you can chow down on unlimited selections from the brunch menu – although they’re giving the street taco and waffle stations the day off. Kids 10 and under are $10. Grown-ups can also add unlimited bloody marys or mimosas for an additional $22.22.

Marlow’s Lee Vista, near the airport, is hosting a pairing dinner with Tampa’s Dark Door Spirits, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Your $80 ticket gets you four courses (tuna crudo, roasted Brussels sprouts with bacon, grilled pork chop with potatoes and local corn, and smoked rum tiramisu). Each course is paired with a cocktail featuring Dark Door spirits. Contact 407-985-2381 or marlowsorlando4@metzcorp.com for a reservation.

This year’s Wine Quest, both June 2 and 3, moves to Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando Resort. You can enjoy this big annual fundraiser for Quest, Inc two ways – or both! Friday night is the grand tasting event with 200+ wines and spirits and hors d’oeuvres prepared by gourmet chefs. That’s $250 a person. Saturday night is a four-course dining experience with wine pairings. That’s $350 a person. A two-night ticket to both events is $500. Both nights are cocktail attire, and you must be 21 or over to attend. Quest, Inc. is a non-profit organization helping adults and children with developmental disabilities through services to increase capabilities and quality of life.

The Harp and Celt Irish Pub and Restaurant in downtown Orlando is back for another Curry Night partnership with the Viceroy Chipshop Curry Club, specializing in Indian food by way of London. For $22, you get your curry with naan and the sides. Lamb is $2 extra and all dishes can be made vegetarian. These events sell out, so it is best to call in advance or talk to the bartender now.

Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster is celebrating 30 years in Orlando by donating all dining proceeds for the night (excluding alcohol sales) to two local charities. Known as Del Frisco’s Prime Steak & Lobster for its first 20 years on Lee Rd., Christner’s specializes in a classic steakhouse menu of USDA Prime Steaks and cold-water lobster tails. The donation will be split equally between Aspire Health Partners and The Howard Phillips Center for Children & Families to assist with mental health and support services for at-risk children and families. Making a reservation early would be a good idea.

The Edible Education Experience is hosting a night with Chef Michael Morrison on Monday, June 26, for $100 a person, 6 – 8:30 p.m. Morrison is currently chef de cuisine with The Chef and I inside Orlando full-service food hall, The Hall on The Yard. Before coming to Orlando, he was also head chef at San Francisco’s Coco500 and executive chef of Hiro Sone’s Michelin-starred Ame. The night is inspired by Chef Morrison’s travels through Europe and Asia, starting with small bites and a glass of sparkling wine, followed by a four-course dinner. The dinner is for +21 only.