Beginning September 30, guests can take a bite out of the galaxy at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex! During Taste of Space, an annual event that takes place at the visitor complex, guests will discover multiple ways to pique their palates with the flavors of fall: Taste of Space: Fall Bites!; Marstini Shake-Off; and Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition.
These fall bites are available at different locations, which allows you to enjoy a treat, explore, and do it all over again.
Quick guide to Kennedy Space Center's Taste of Space: Fall Bites
What to Expect
There are six different Fall Bites offerings available at five different locations throughout Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex. Although the park opens at 9 a.m., most of the food items are not available for purchase until 11 a.m. or later so you’ll want to plan your appetite appropriately.
All but one of the Fall Bites can be found on the main campus of the KSCVC. You’ll need to take a bus to get to Moon Rock Café, which is located in the Apollo/Saturn V Center. There are three food selections to enjoy at this location. The short bus ride is part of the fun of visiting Kennedy Space Center. You'll get an idea of how massive this complex is, and all that it takes to make space exploration a reality.
What to Try at this food festival
Fall Bites prices are reasonably priced at less than $10 per item. Portions aren’t huge, but a good sharing size to enjoy between a few people.
TASTE OF SPACE FALL BITES! 2024 MENU AND LOCATIONS:
Space Bowl Bistro:
- Harvest Bowl: Quinoa, tri-colored potato, super greens, diced granny smith apples, goat cheese, and maple syrup
Milky Way:
- Pear Galette with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream
Orbit Cafe:
- Chili with Lentils and Squash
- Cranberry Brie “Moon” Puffs with Honey and Toasted Almonds
Red Rock Grill:
- Lamb “Meteor” Meatballs with Spiced Mint Marinara
Moon Rock Cafe:
- Autumn Pizza: Bacon, fig and habanero spread, squash, sweet potato, sopressata, cheddar cheese and sage
Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off
On October 4, bartenders from Lourdes Library, The Space Bar, Playalinda’s Brix Project, 28 North Gastropub, The Alilbi Cocktails & Bites, and Oceanside Distillery will compete for the coveted Marstini trophy at the fourth annual Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off.
To take place inside Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, guests over 21 can sample each Marstini and enjoy several fall dishes while mingling with veteran NASA astronaut Tony Antonelli. Attendees will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite cocktail creation to win the People’s Choice Award.
Guests can sample drinks and then vote for their favorites. Tickets for the Taste of Space Marstini Shake-Off are $159 per person + tax.
Related Post: Kennedy Space Center Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off in October 2024
Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition
Another foodie favorite event returns on November 2 with the third Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition, a celebrity-studded chef demo and dinner after-hours event. Renowned chefs Duff Goldman and Amanda Freitag will serve up something special for attendees that is guaranteed to make their taste buds blast off. Plus, chef Jon Ashton will host the evening and create a stupendous dish. Chefs Goldman, Freitag and Ashton will demonstrate their expert cooking techniques alongside veteran astronauts Robert Cabana, Janet Kavandi and Jose Hernandez.
Guests will have the chance to enjoy exclusive menu items as they hear personal stories about the experience of eating in space as well as favorite foods the astronauts enjoyed during their flights. The chance to take photos with the astronauts following the demo will only be bested by a delectable selection of desserts, including a specialty cake designed by Duff himself and Charm City Cakes.
Ticket Includes:
- Samplings from the chef demonstration menu
- Two (2) alcoholic drink tickets
- Cash bar
- Astronaut photo opportunities
- Signed commemorative piece by the chefs and astronauts
- Custom event pin
Tickets for this event are $175 per person plus tax and are available for purchase online at www.kennedyspacecenter.com.
Gourmands seeking a bit more flavor can take advantage of a very limited number of tickets available for an exclusive meal that will follow the chef demo. The two-hour, sit-down, multi-course dinner will feature a menu designed by Goldman, Freitag and Ashton and will take place on the second floor of Gateway inside the flight terminal of Spaceport KSC.
Personal visits to each table will be made by the celebrity chefs and astronauts in attendance. Ending the meal with a treat sweeter than most desserts, guests will have the chance to mingle and take photos with Goldman, Freitag and Ashton. Tickets are $499 per person plus tax and include both the chef demo and sit-down dinner events.
Foodie Fun for the Whole Family
New this year, an exclusive family-friendly ice cream social with Goldman and Freitag will round out the Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition weekend. On Sunday, November 3, the chefs will conduct a short demo while interacting with guests as they create their own ice cream sundaes. Duff’s signature cake will also be on display during the event. In addition to one-day admission, tickets for the Ice Cream Social are $60 plus tax for adults and $50 plus tax for children.
Related Post: Discover Something Real at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex this Summer
Taste of Space: Know Before You Go
You need to buy a ticket to get into Kennedy Space Center Visitors Complex in order to have access to all these fall bites. The cost of a one-day adult ticket is $75. For children ages 3 to 11, the cost is $65. Discounts are given for seniors, active military and multi-day passes. Also, be prepared to pay $10 for parking.
If you live in the area, you may want to consider an annual pass, which is $149 for adults and $120 for children ages 3 – 11. There’s also the Family Pass for $432.10, which allows entry for two adults and up to four children. The annual passes include parking.
Consider purchasing your tickets online before you to save time when you get to the park. Check the launch schedule before you go. It’s an amazing experience to be at KSCVC for a rocket launch, but expect larger crowds those days.
