Edible Orlando is one of seventy Edible Communities magazines that create editorially rich, community-based, local-foods publications throughout the United States and Canada.
Each quarter, the editors pack the magazine with stories about our local food movement and ideas for bringing it into our daily lives. In addition, they also send out a monthly email, which is filled with the area's best upcoming foodie events. Subscribe to the monthly newsletter at the bottom of this page. Here's a summary of this month's happenings, courtesy of Edible Orlando:
edible Events
9a.m-3p.m.
As part of its 100-day centennial celebration, Seminole County presents a self-guided farm tour of six farms: Soggy Acres Pomelo Farm in Winter Springs; Gabriella Growers and Sundew Gardens in Oviedo; and The Yarborough Ranch, U-Pick Blackberries, and Rest Haven Farm in Geneva. Visit one or all six free of charge, and call (407) 665-5560 by April 3 to pre-register for a noon lunch at The Yarborough Ranch, featuring local produce and burgers ($10 at the door). Map and directions available HERE.April 6
11:30a.m.
Explore the meaning of southern foodways and how they shed insight on the region’s complex history and future at a screening of the Southern Foodways Alliance film,Pride & Joy. The screening will be part of the 2013 Florida Film Festival at the Enzian Theater. For tickets, visit floridafilmfestival.com.April 7
11a.m.
Celebration of all things Southern continues at the Florida Film Festival's panel discussion and tasting Southern Fare: Tales from Great Storytellers, sponsored by Edible Orlando. Joining the panel are Martha Hall Foose, a James Beard Award winner for American Cooking and a Southern Independent Bookseller’s Award winner; James and Julie Petrakis, owners/chefs of sister restaurants Cask & Larder and The Ravenous Pig here in Winter Park; Brandon McGlamery, whose passion for wood burning ovens and Italian food sets the tone Prato and Luma on Park; and Mississippi’s own Donald Bender, whose legendary Mockingbird Bakery specialized in artisan breads and baked goods; filmmaker Joe York, whose newest film on Southern cooking is Pride and Joy; Will Harris of White Oak Pastures in Bluffton, Georgia, a cattle rancher with deep roots in the Deep South; and Troy Ball of Troy & Sons Moonshine. General admission is $10. For tickets, visit floridafilmfestival.com.
April 11
New York Times best-selling author Steve Berry will be the featured guests at the 6th annual Reading between the Wines, a fundraiser to benefit the Adult Literacy League, the only nonprofit organization providing adult literacy services in Central Florida. Held inside the Orlando Science Center, the event will include delicious offerings from local restaurants including Citrus and Yum Yum Cupcakes, fine wines and a silent auction. Individual tickets are $75 and are available at adultliteracyleague.org, or by calling (407) 422-1540.
6:30p.m.
9a.m.–4p.m.
Chefs and authors take center stage at the 3rd annual UCF Book Festival Orlando at the UCF Arena. Enjoy author panels and book signings, a children’s area, a teen zone and live cooking demos (including one by Edible Orlando’s own Pam Brandon and Katie Farmand). Admission and parking are free. Visit bookfestival.ucf.edu for more details.6p.m.
The Cattle Barons’ Ball, the signature gala supporting the American Cancer Society in Central Florida, returns to Orlando for the third year in a row since its successful revival. Guests will enjoy food, drinks, Western-themed activities, bid on silent auction items and participate in a live auction. Visit facebook.com/centralfloridacbb for more information.7p.m.
Enjoy fine wines and incredible cuisine at Food & Wine at Portofino, part of the Celebration Exotic Car Festival. Chefs from television's Top Chef and Hell's Kitchen, and from local restaurants including Primo by Melissa Kelly, Sushi House Orlando, Roy's Hawaiian Fusion Cuisine, The Palm and more prepare a world-class culinary extravaganza at the Loew's Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando. Highlighting the evening will be a display of exotic cars, live music, performance artists, silent and live auctions, and much more! All proceeds from the entire festival are donated to children's charities, including Make-A-Wish Foundation and Arnold Palmer Hospital. Tickets for this event are $125 each prior to April 10 and $150 thereafter. More info available atcelebrationexoticcars.com.
April 17
5–8 p.m.
Some of Central Florida’s best restaurants will offer their tastiest fare at the 28th annual Taste of Winter Park. Enjoy delicious food samples as well as live music and signature cocktails, wine, and beer for $45 per person. For a complete list of participants, visit winterpark.org.
April 18
6–9 p.m.
Join Growing Synergy and A Local Folkus for a fun evening of Purr-fectly good wings and Brew at Orlando Brewing. The menu will feature Seely’s Ark chicken wings with Fat Cat Gourmet Foods hot sauces and Orlando Brewing beer. Fat Cat’s founder Eyal Goldshmid will be preparing wings with three different varieties of his award-winning sauces. $15 per person includes choice of beer and a dozen wings. For more information, visit fatcatfoods.com.
April 20
Come and celebrate a taste of Louisiana at the 23rd annual RajunCajun Crawfish Festival in Isle of Pines in Southwest Orlando. Enjoy Cajun and Zydeco music while dining on all-you-can-eat crawfish and double-fried chicken, red beans and rice, jambalaya and more. Alcohol is not served at the event, but in true Louisiana style, guests are encouraged to BYOB. $40, $20 for ages 8–11, free under 7. Adult Tickets, $40, must be purchased online in advance. Tickets for kids ages 8-12, $20, are available only at the gate. For tickets and more information, visitcrawfishcoofcentralflainc.com/RajunCajun2003.html.