Here are some quick tips for food and fun in Orlando, including Coastal Catch in NSB, Diversitastic Dining, Veg Fest, and more.
One Florida crop that was largely unaffected by Hurricane Milton is mushrooms, because so many of them are grown inside, both by small gourmet growers and large industrial farmers. Flipping through the Edible Orlando recipe stacks, we found recipes for an updated tuna noodle casserole, a mushroom and brown rice frittata, and a vegan mushroom loaf with walnuts and cashews!
As we write this, the weather has cooled off a bit and the skies are blue, so no excuses to not get out there and enjoy the food culture across Orlando and Central Florida. Edible Orlando writer John Graham is always on the hunt for those events and he’s got your best bets for the next couple weeks.
Ongoing: Until the end of the month, 18 New Smyrna Beach restaurants are doing three-course prix fixe dinners for $39 or $59. If you don’t live out in NSB, it’s a great excuse for a daytrip and to try out a new spot or enjoy an old favorite. Restaurants participating in Coastal Catch Restaurant Month include Spanish River Grill, Norwood’s, SoNapa Grille, Outriggers, Limoncello South, Third Wave Café, and many more.
Hurricane Milton delayed the final guest chef pop-up at Winter Park’s Superica, but a new dish is now on the menu, just until Friday, Oct. 25. Created by John Rivers from 4 Rivers Smokehouse, it’s a smoked short rib al carbon with charred onions, cabbage, pico de gallo, salsa cremosa, 4 Rivers sauce, and lime. All proceeds from the one-week special go to 4Rivers Farm, helping unearth the power of food to build healthy communities.
Saturday, Oct. 19: The Come Out with Pride Festival is one of the biggest gay pride celebrations in the Southeast and the parade downtown starts at 4 p.m. There’s not a big food component to the party, but drag brunches at Savoy and Jack & Honey’s are a reason to celebrate.
Sunday, Oct. 20: Sampling six champagnes should be a super Sunday. Winter Park’s Soseki Omakase and Bar Kada are hosting Benoît Tarlant of Champagne Tarlant, the twelfth consecutive generation to produce and bottle the French sparking wine. Tickets are $65 to sample six labels from Champagne Tarlant, starting at 5 p.m., and tickets are going fast. Light snacks will be served with the option to order a la carte from Bar Kada.
Monday, Oct. 21: Five local chefs are coming together for a five-course dinner and wine pairing at The Osprey to benefit the National Alliance for Eating Disorders. Participating are Michael Cooper (The Osprey), Nikk Burton (The Monroe), Rhys Gawlak (JW Marriott Grande Lakes), Lordfer Lalicon (Kaya) and Michael Tiva (Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill). Each course is selected and presented by one of the chefs – who are keeping the menu a surprise. Seats are $200 a person with the option of reserving a full table for eight. The dress code is cocktail chic.
Tuesday, Oct. 22: FusionFest celebrates the diverse and many cultures and foods you find in Orlando and the latest Diversitastic! dinner night heads to the Virgin Islands. Everyone meets at Avalon Park’s Virgin Island Thyme Caribbean Grille at 7 p.m. The night’s menu includes mango/pina colada shooters, jerk wings, mini beef pates (empanadas), Rock City BBQ ribs, coconut shrimp, rice and peas, fried plantains, johnny cake, and warm carrot cake or mango guava cheesecake. Diversitastic! events also include a cultural talk and live steel drum music. Tickets are $64.09 after fees.
Wednesday, Oct. 23: When there’s no game, you might as well put the tailgating on the turf. Feast on the 50 is a tailgating party on the field of Camping World Stadium, starting at 5 p.m., featuring a bunch of local restaurants and beverage distributors. That’s Raising Cane’s and 4 Rivers Smokehouse to Oley’s Kitchen and Thriving Hospitality. Tickets are $40 for adults with tickets already part of most Florida Citrus Sports memberships. Kids 10 and under are free. Alumni clubs from Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, B-CU, FAMU, and Rollins will compete for the most spirited tent. This is another event rescheduled after Hurricane Milton, so if you already have tickets, they’re still good.
Longwood’s The Good Pour liquor shop wants you to have a little wine and cheese on its “Good Porch.” A $37.45 (after taxes and fees) ticket gets you six tastings of Jackson Family Wines from Santa Barbara, along with gourmet cheeses and a $10 credit toward buying Jackson Family Wines that night.
Thursday, Oct. 24: Fans of the pop-up Cellar Dinners from Duck & Drake Kitchen should know they’ve been reimagined at the brick-and-mortar restaurant from the same folks, The Drake Kitchen + Bar. Tonight’s dinner is built around Italy’s Amalfi Coast – an eight-course (!) dinner with wine pairings, starting at 6 p.m. Tickets are $238.50 (with tax, but before tip).
Friday, Oct. 25: Caymus Vineyards is one of Napa’s older family-owned and -operated wineries, celebrating its 50th anniversary in 2022. Maggiano’s Little Italy on I-Drive has snagged some Caymus 50th Year Anniversary Cabernet and other notable wines from the Caymus line for a wine dinner, 6:30 – 9:30 p.m. The meal is $111.56 (after taxes and fees) with a menu of signature crostini, autumn panzanella salad, fettuccine Bolognese, beef medallion / lobster ravioli duo, and pumpkin praline cheesecake.
Saturday, Oct. 26: Winter Garden’s Crooked Can Brewing Company is getting in its Oktoberfest with just a few days left in the month. That’s 4 – 11 p.m. today, 11 a.m. – 11 p.m. on Saturday, and 12 – 6 p.m. on Sunday. Expect some interesting German fusion food choices from the Plant Street Market stalls.
Casselberry’s German American Society of Central Florida is also back with one final day of Oktoberfest for 2024, noon to 10 p.m. You’ve got German food, beer on tap, live music, traditional dancing, and a flag parade. Admission is $5 (before fees) in advance or at the door with free entry for kids 11 or under as well as active-duty military, veterans, first responders and law enforcement with valid ID.
The 19th annual Central Florida Veg Fest returns in Orlando Festival Park, 10 a.m. – 6 p.m., a day of food and activities for vegans, vegetarians, and the veggie curious. Vegetarians of Central Florida has brought together around 18 food vendors, serving up everything from vegan burgers and ribs to avocado fries and mushroom “chicken” sandwiches. Veg Fest also includes speakers, vendors, demonstrations, live entertainment and yoga. Admission is free, but parking is $5 per vehicle. Veg Fest is dog-friendly, alcohol free, and smoke free.
Quantum Leap Winery is celebrating the grand opening at its new location on Edgewater Dr, overlooking Lake Fairview, with a pig roast, 6 – 8 p.m. The $30 ticket lets you tour the new facility, get a glass of wine, listen to live entertainment, and enjoy the Berkshire hog roast with all the sides. There are no tickets at the door, so if you want to go, you gotta buy in advance.
Sunday, October 27: Temple Israel in Winter Springs will be selling kosher corned beef sandwiches, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. If you order online by Oct. 20, a sandwich, potato salad, and pickle will run you $18, or $23 with drink and cookie. After Oct. 20, it’s $2 more. If you go to the temple for your sandwich, it’s also time for the annual used book fair.
Deliria is a strong blonde ale, brewed each year by a team of only women for Belgium’s Delirium brand, the beers with the pink elephant on the label. From 12 – 3 p.m., Gravity Taproom in the North Quarter will host a beer brunch featuring Deliria, as well as other Delirium beers. For each Delirium sold, Gravity will donate a dollar, matched by Delirium, to the National Breast Cancer Foundation. Expect games, raffles, and giveaways too.
Monday, Oct. 28: Instead of taking Monday off, nine local chefs are headed to the Edible Education Experience for the Fall Fête Fundraiser, 6 – 9 p.m. First, you get to mingle, nibble, and enjoy a drink with the chefs and other guests. Then, it’s a multi-course meal focused on the fresh and seasonal ingredients of Florida, and you wrap up with two dessert stations. Chefs attending include Bruno Fonseca (The Foreigner Experience), Fabrizio Schenardi (Four Seasons), Jamie McFadden (Cuisiniers Catering), Jes Tantalo (Redlight Redlight), Julie Petrakis (The Ravenous Pig), Kevin Fonzo (Art in Voyage), Leah Cordova (The Neighbors), Lordfer Lalicon (Kaya), and Marc Kusche (Space 220, Patina Restaurant Group). Tickets are $275 per person and money raised goes toward EEE’s mission to create a community that prioritizes sustainable whole food as a source of joy and connection.
Friday, Nov. 1: If you’re mysteriously craving souvlaki and baklava, your stomach knows it’s the return of Greek Fest Orlando, today through Sunday, Oct. 3, at Maitland’s Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church. The fest is going cashless this year, so bring the credit card if you want gyros, pastitsio, dolmades, saganaki, kataifi, ouzo, Greek beer and soda, and more. The Aegean Duo will play live and the church’s Hellenic dance troupe will perform too. Church tours are also available. Admission is free, but parking in the church lot is $10. Free parking with shuttle buses is available for a couple lots down the road.
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