Driving into the desert was a first for me—first of many firsts during our weekend in Zion National Park—but Mr. Forkful’s birthday weekend was a great opportunity to introduce ourselves to South Utah. Fresh from the city, another first was the still and crisp Zion desert air. Zion was all open plains were dotted with […]
Nihon Matsuri Salt Lake City 2018
Okay, hibernation over! A few weekends ago Mr. Forkful and I jumped into full-blown Spring mode at this year’s Nihon Matsuri in Salt Lake City. Something thawed inside and I was a little less heartsick for Florida. Pops of color were everywhere—on nobori, kimonos, umbrellas—just everywhere. Taiko drums thundered from the stage; Taikoza performed selections from […]
The Americas Cake Fair Returns to Orlando’s OCCC Oct 13-15
Pastry chefs, cake artists, and other chocolate and sugar artists—over 10,000 attendees—are converging on Orlando, Florida to exhibit their skills and share their craft through food competitions, demonstrations, and panel discussions from October 13 through October 15. And the best part is, tickets are open to the public. Day passes pre-sale for USD 30 and […]
Domu in Audubon Park
Domu is also coming up on their 1st year anniversary this October, and their izakaya vibe is still equal parts chill and thrill. It’s adjacent to East End Market, one of the beating hearts of Audobon Park. The gilt lettering, soft lights, and craft cocktails are a honeyed hello. House-made and Locally Sourced are Domu’s […]
Travel Bite: Tokyo Food, Sights, and Sounds
Japan is a thunderclap of pure, distilled Amazing. The sights, sounds, and people leave me stunned and amazed every time. Tokyo is New York City to the nth power, but spotless and filled with the nicest, most respectful people I have ever met. I try to look beyond the city limits from floor-to-ceiling windows in New York Bar […]
Bulla Gastrobar Opens in Winter Park
Bulla means noise, usually the kind that happens at a party or celebration. That’s what Bulla Gastrobar felt like—a celebration of Spanish food and culture. The menu runs the gamut of traditional Spanish eats from Jamón Iberico to prawn-studded Paella. The Chorizo de Bellota (Black foot Iberian pork sausage from Salamanca), creamy Spanish cheese, […]
Orlando Cat Café in Clermont
The cutest, most adorable thing happened last Sunday—I met a passel of fluffy kittens! Axum Coffee of Winter Garden and The Animal League non-profit have partnered and opened Orlando’s first cat café. The Café Axum Coffee is one of the precious few coffee houses in Orlando (top 5 list coming soon!) where you can get a […]
Top 5 Orlando Taco Places
Orlando continues to be this ever-evolving melting pot of food. You can travel the full gamut of chain standard fare to locavore favorite in a heartbeat and few exits on Interstate 4, which is why if you’re a taco fan know that Orlando’s got your back. From corn to flour tortilla, traditional to Tex-Mex, this Top […]
Magic of Maple at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate
Farm-to-table goes tree-to-table at Omni Orlando Resort at ChampionsGate this summer. Every year Omni Orlando spotlights a humble, all-natural ingredient and celebrates it in amazing ways. This year, after a week-long culinary immersion in Vermont and Montreal maple syrup-producing areas, Chef Robert Ash and his culinary team made Vermont maple syrup the star of the show. […]
Lionfish at Grills Seafood Deck in Cape Canaveral
Deep “froiled” lionfish is now one of the first things I’ll associate with Cape Canaveral. A biological neon danger sign should flash red over lionfish in the wild. Their colors are a stunning chocolate and cream. At the first hint of a challenge, their wide fins snap open, poisonous barbs ready to inject a debilitating […]