5 Treats for the Tastebuds with Orlando Food Tours

-
     Orlando is known for themeparks, family entertainment, and quite honestly, crowds.  What many don't know is that there are several charming towns that are worthy of a break from your busy vacation schedule.  During a recent trip to Orlando, we took a time-out from the themeparks to visit the town of Winter Park, just a 10 minute drive north on I-4.  Park Avenue is the main street in downtown Winter Park, across from a park that spans several blocks and includes a Amtrak train depot and SunRail stop.  This quaint downtown area attracts locals and tourists for shopping and dining.  

     During our time in Winter Park, we got to partake in a culinary tour with Orlando Food Tours.  We met at 11am in front of Kilwin's Ice Cream shop and were greeted by our two personable hosts, Carling and Kiel.  Carling gave a brief history of the town of Winter Park before the first stop on our tour.

1.  The Parkview is a cosy tapas restaurant with wine racks flanking one entire wall.  The eclectic menu makes it a popular spot for locals who enjoy the small plates and wine flights.  A long table was set and waiting for our group. We were promptly offered delicious Mimosas, (or orange juice for those wanting a non alcoholic drink).  After settling in, and being introduced to the restaurant, we were served Roasted Tomato Tartine.  This was similar to a large bruschetta toast made from a slice of homemade toasted French artisan bread topped with a pesto sauce, fresh buffalo mozzarella slices, oven roasted tomatoes and finished with extra virgin olive oil.  A salad of mixed greens with a balsamic dressing was served on the side.   The combination of the fresh bread, creamy cheese and savory tomato along with the delicate salad was a delight to the taste buds.  The staff was on hand to answer questions and Carling made sure she was available to everyone to answer our questions.



2. On to our next stop, The Ancient Olive.  Not only did I love The Ancient Olive, but the location was fantastic.  We headed north on Park Avenue until we reached an alley between the buildings with a sign which read "The Hidden Garden." 

We followed this to find hidden gems behind the main street shops.  We came to a bricked courtyard with a fountain and wrought iron tables and chairs which gave us the feeling of having escaped to a little spot in Italy. 


 Once inside, we found dozens of selections of extra virgin olive oils and different flavors and types of balsamic vinegars in stainless steel containers.  






Not only an olive oil store, it's also an art gallery with local art for sale in the shop.

Our host taught us the "Strepaggio" technique of slurping the oils when tasting.  He was quite informative, explaining the olive pressing process and explaining the polyphenol levels in all oils. We were invited to ask questions and try any flavor oil or vinegar in the store.   Bruschetta with different breads and fruit was provided for tasting as well as some delicious gluten free cheese filled rolls.  





Besides olive oils and vinegars, the shop also sells a variety of pastas, sauces, olives, and assorted jams.


We were also given a tart cocktail containing infused tea, blackberry infused balsamic vinegar and vodka.  We were given ample time to taste, sip, and munch. We used coupons included with the tour to purchase oils and balsamics to take with us (they held our purchases until the end of the tour).  


3. Next we took a walk down historic Park Avenue where Carling told us about several historic homes and The Charles Morse Museum which was pointed out to us before heading to our next stop, the Tea and Spice Exchange. 
Casa Feliz historic home

Morse Museum



This store sold everything from exotic spices to domestic teas.  Our host talked about their own original spice blends for making sauces and dips.  We were treated to a tasting of meatballs in a spicy barbecue sauce, dips made from different spice blends and an infused tea cocktail.  Again we could use our tour coupon to make purchases in the shop.  








4. On our fourth stop, it was time to fuel ourselves again with savory pizza at Braccia Ristorante.  This is, believe it or not, a Brazilian pizzeria with the distinction that all of the ingredients; from the spices, to the cheeses, and the wines as well, are from Brazil. The decor had a modern European.  We had to remind ourselves it was Brazilian.
















 We were offered a glass of red or white wine with two choices of pizza, both with delicately thin crusts.  The pepperoni pizza had just enough sauce and cheese and the chicken pizza was topped with creamy and buttery Brazilian cheese.  They gave ample portions and no one left hungry.  

As we left the pizzeria, we were serenaded by a street performer singing a variety of Tony Bennet classics (preemptive to the free salute to Tony Bennett concert being held later on in the town park).
http://www.bracciapizzeria.com or check out their Facebook page:  http://www.bracciapizzeria.com

5. On our last stop, we ended up where we started at Kilwin's for ice cream and fudge tasting. This is a magical place where fudge, candy confections and ice cream are created in house. We were given a scoop of creamy chocolate chip ice cream and a piece of luscious salted caramel fudge.  








At the end of our 2 hour tour, our bellies were full and we had not only gained an appreciation for the town of Winter Park, we also had a list of recommendations for the best restaurants to visit for dinner.  As our tour came to a close, we were shocked to learn that Carling was still in training as a tour guide as she was very knowledgeable about each stop and about Winter Park history.
On the whole, I would recommend this tour as a great break from crowds, and a historical and culinary treat.


Add promo code DestDiva when booking to receive a 10% discount on your tour!

Mary deSilva is an artist, travel book author, blogger and teacher.  She lives in Louisiana.  
See Mary's ebooks here.
See Mary's artwork here.
Mary's Youtube Channel: CajunDIYDiva
Like Mary's Magic Tips Facebook page here.

Location: Winter Park, FL, USA

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

The Colors of Marvel's Super Hero Island Evoke Strong Emotions

-
Image
I wasn't always a Marvel fan but after developing a healthy obsession with Universal Orlando and Thor (or should I say, Chris Evans), I'm quickly becoming one.  I am fascinated with the films based on Marvel characters and though I would not classify myself on the same level as some Marvel enthusiasts, I enjoy looking up each character and their comic book history on the interwebs.  It's a scientific fact that colors evoke strong psychological responses.  Did you ever notice that fast food restaurants almost always use the color red in a major way because it enhances appetite while blue can suppress appetite? As guests first view Marvel Super Hero Island at  Universal's Islands of Adventure , a rush of color hits you in the face with a superhuman force!  This "island" of villains and heroes is a feast for the eyes with a multitude of vivid colors.  Towering classic Marvel comic artwork is almost too much for a guest's mind to...
Read more

The Do's and Don'ts of Hotel Room Cooking

-
Image
     One of the hottest trends on Youtube right now is cooking in your hotel room!   Why would anyone want to cook in a hotel room?  Because it's budget friendly (especially if you've looked at a room service menu lately).  It's also convenient in case you're hungry late at night and don't want to venture out, and it's kind of fun (it reminds me of my girl scout camping days)!      Some hotels chains such as Residence Inns, Homewood Suites and Extended Stay hotels have full kitchens, and many budget friendly "free breakfast" hotels rooms are equipped with a mini-refrigerator and microwave oven.  However, more often than not, your room is likely to be only equipped with a coffee maker and an ice bucket.  And, most theme park value hotels don't even have a coffee maker!      So how does one cook in this situation?  You would not believe what people are cooking in there hotel rooms!  There are doz...
Read more

Cajun and Creole Dictionary

-
Cajun and Creole Dictionary Cajun (cay-jun)  Slang for Acadians, “Cajuns” settled along the swamps and bayous of Louisiana. The term now applies to the people, the culture, and the cooking.  This cooking style evolved from using the available resources such as the local seafood and wild game. The local native Americans lent the use of corn, ground sassafras and bay leaves. Cajun cooking is associated with “one-pot meals.”  Allons (al-on):  Let’s go! Andouille (ahn-do-ee)  A spicy country sausage used in Gumbo and other Cajun dishes. Bayou (bi-yoo)  The streams or small rivers in Louisiana. Bisque (bisk)  A thick, cream or milk-based shellfish soup, usually made with crawfish, shrimp or oysters. Bon Appetite! (bon a-pa-teet)  “Good appetite” or "Enjoy!" Boucherie (boo-shuh-ree)  A community butchering which involves several families contributing the animal(s) --usually pigs -- to be slaughtered. Each family...
Read more