While Central Florida may be known year-round for theme parks, one thing is for certain, fall is the season for foodies. PEOPLE magazine recently named Orlando one of its “foodiest” cities in America, and with many food-centric festivals, events and new restaurants, Four Seasons Resort Orlando at Walt Disney World Resort is excited to be a part of it all.
“The Orlando food scene is sizzling right now, and we’re thrilled to be a part of it,” says Stephen Wancha, Director of Food and Beverage for Four Seasons Resort Orlando. “The guest chefs we’re welcoming are some of the best in the nation. In addition to Magical Dining Month, plus the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival, we have an incredible fall culinary line up.”
Magical Dining Month
Four Seasons Resort Orlando is participating for the first time in VISIT ORLANDO’s Magical Dining Month. The Resort’s Italian restaurant, Ravello, will offer a pre-fixe three-course menu for USD 33 per person. The menu includes an appetiser choice of carpaccio with beef, cured mushrooms, picked radish and watercress; Cesare salad with hearts of romaine, parmesan, anchovy and focaccia croutons; or grilled calamari with orange, fennel, arugula and capers. The entrée choices includes veal Milanese with oven roasted tomatoes and herb salad; grilled chicken with EVOO and herb crusted potato, seasonal vegetables and natural jus; or pan seared salmon with string beans, pancetta and fregola. Dessert offers choice of a granita-cassata in watermelon, lemon or peach with mascarpone; or a sweet grape focaccia with Nutella gelato. The special menu will be offered nightly in Ravello starting August 24 through September 30, 2015.
Epcot International Food & Wine Festival
The renowned Epcot International Food & Wine Festival presented by CHASE is back for its 20th year in 2015. Four Seasons Resort Orlando will be participating for the second year in a row, at the popular culinary demonstrations and Party For the Senses event. The festival opens September 25 and runs through November 16, and will feature more than 30 global marketplaces for sipping and noshing throughout the park.
- Saturday, October 17 – Capa Chef Tim Dacey will participate in the Party For the Senses event from 7:00 to 9:30 pm
- Sunday, October 18 – Capa Chef Tim Dacey will give a pork culinary demo from 3:00 to 3:45 pm
- Wednesday, October 21 – Executive Pastry Chef Rabii Saber will give a Pastry demo from 5:00 to 5:45 pm
- Saturday, October 24 – Executive Chef Fabrizio Schenardi will give a lamb culinary demo from 3:00 to 3:45 pm
Guest Chef Series
For the second year in a row, Four Seasons has created a spectacular line up of guest chef dinners. The Resort will play host the following special dinners:
- Tuesday, October 13: PB&G will host Kevin Nashan, multiple James Beard Award nominee and Chef/Owner of Sydney Street Café and The Peacemaker in St. Louis, Missouri. Chef Nashan will work alongside Executive Sous Chef Sam Faggetti and Executive Pastry Chef Rabii Saber. USD 65 per person.
- Thursday, November 5: Capa will host Jonathon Sawyer, chef/owner of The Greenhouse Tavern and Trentina, in Cleveland, Ohio. Chef Sawyer will join Capa Chef Tim Dacey for a pre-fixe pairing dinner. Sawyer won the 2015 James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Great Lakes. USD 125 per person.
- Saturday, December 5: Capa will host a James Beard Foundation Celebrity Chef Tour dinner, featuring award winning chefs including Gerard Craft, 2015 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef-Midwest, known as St. Louis’ preeminent chef-restaurateur at flagship Niche as well as at Brasserie by Niche, Taste and Pastaria; Norman Van Aken of NORMAN’s restaurant in Orlando, a past James Beard semi-finalist for “Best Chef in America”; Tony Mantuano of Spiaggia in Chicago and Top Chef Masters; Ed Lee of 610 Magnolia in Louisville, Kentucky and Top Chef; Stefan Riemer, Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Pastry Chef, Concept Development; Michael Sullivan formerly of Blackberry Farms, Tennessee, and more to be announced. USD 235 per person.
- Saturday, January 16, 2016: Capa will host a special guest chef dinner with Philip Foss, chef/owner of El Ideas, a Michelin Star Chicago restaurant. Foss is known for his avant-garde preparations and techniques. USD 195 per person.
Reservations for Magical Dining at Ravello or any of the guest chef dinners can be made by calling 407 313 6161.
Couples Weeks
With all of the great dining options that abound, plus adult amenities such as The Oasis adult-only pool, the 18-hole Tranquilo Golf Club, and The Spa, Four Seasons Resort Orlando is a popular couples’ destination. Now, couples’ offerings are even more enticing with the introduction of Couples Weeks at the Resort and a new overnight package. Couples Weeks start late August, run throughout the month of September 2015 and will feature added offerings, including twice-weekly mixology classes so couples can “shake and stir” things up, as well as Dinner & A Movie nights. Every Friday night throughout the select Couples Weeks, the Starstruck Screen at the Explorer Pool will feature romantic comedies and the option of ordering poolside dinner. Special dinner stations will be offered with alternating themes, including a sushi station, tartare bar, grilled flatbreads on the Big Green Egg, charcuterie, and sweet and savoury crepes. Also, The Oasis adult-only pool for guests ages 21 and older will offer extra complimentary amenities, such as infused fruits, each afternoon.
The Couples Stay and Play package includes a guest room on a couples-only floor, two welcome cocktails, a guaranteed late check out of 2:00 pm to enjoy extra time to sleep in, unlimited in-room movies, plus the couples’ choice of a 50-minute Spa treatment for two, a golf lesson for two, or a tennis lesson for two. For reservations of the Couples Stay and Play package and Couples Weeks offerings, call 1 800 267 3046.