On August 19th, Rosen Hotels and Resorts welcomed to their family a new restaurant, Harry’s Poolside Bar & Grill located at the Rosen Centre Hotel. Harry’s was named after the grandfather of founder Harris Rosen. Harry’s has a casual, relaxing atmosphere. Chef Emeterio “Tello” Luna was instrumental in creating the Caribbean-inspired menu.
On August 9th, 38 Chefs, including Food Network celebrity chef Melissa d’Arabian, along with 2,000 attendees have raised over $300,000 in the 25th Annual Taste of the Nation Orlando. All of the proceeds from the event are going to help end childhood hunger in Central Florida, benefiting Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.The Coalition will use the funds to provide food, shelter and services to more than 150 children and their families each night in the coming year. Second Harvest will direct the funds to Benefits Connection, one of their primary feeding programs. 
What a successful event! Thank you to everyone who participated – all of the chefs, sponsors, volunteers and guests! For more information on how to become a part of this great cause, please visit www.tasteofnation.org/orlando.
We visited one of the oldest steakhouses in Orlando, Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster, formerly known as Del Frisco’s, located at 729 Lee Road in Orlando. Opened in 1993, this fine dining experience is known for its meticulous service and fabulous steaks.The family owned and operated restaurant is legacy of founders Russ and Carole Christner.
Keeping the tradition, guests are still warmed by Christner family members in the dining room. On any given day you can find Carole, Russ’ wife and the next generation of the Christner family, David – son of Russ- and wife, Alice, greeting familiar faces of the many repeat customers. We spoke with Alice Christner about the restaurant’s history and future plans for Christner’s.
Chef Zoli Davis began his career at Christner’s at the age of nineteen. In our interview, he speaks about becoming a chef.
Homemade delicacies set the pace – each meal begins with piping hot bread and personal touches continuing throughout, from the salad dressings to signature desserts such as the award-winning Mandarin Orange Cake. Each ingredient is carefully selected with a serious focus on beef – every serving is the U.S.D.A. Choice. Attention to detail doesn’t end there, cold water lobster tails are imported from Australia and New Zealand and the restaurant boasts a wine portfolio of more than 5,500 bottles.
As the old adage goes, what’s old is new again, and in the case of Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster, they get better with age.
Peperoncino Cucina is located at 7988 Via Dellagio Way off Sandlake Road in Orlando. Greeted by the gorgeous fountain and beautiful landscape of the Dellagio Plaza of Dr. Phillips, you will be immediately transported to the streets of Rome.
This small, yet welcoming restaurant offers authentic Italian cuisine with special touch of peperoncino in every bite. Everything is cooked fresh to order in an open kitchen located in the dining room where you can see dishes being created and smell the wonderful aromas.
At work, doing what she loves!
Chef Barbara Alfono was born and raised in an Italian family in Venezuela. She spent every summer with her grandmother in the south of Italy, where she learned how to cook and fell in love with the her grandmother’s kitchen. After coming to the United States and completing her culinary degree, she transformed her family’s secret recipes into delicious dishes for you to enjoy at Peperoncino.
If you are a big fan of Italian food, like me, or missing nice European flare in your dining experience, or simply looking for a quiet place to eat, you must come and try some of the best Italian classics. Peperoncino Cucina is open for lunch and dinner daily.
by Irina Pabis
Five Seasonal Suggestions from Rosen College of Hospitality Management Wine by Education Program Instructor David Black
Hot summer weather calls for wines that are light, unoaked, refreshing and full of flavor. Each of the four white wines I’ve chosen should be served at refrigerator temperature (45 to 55 degrees F). The lone red wine from Chianti’s Sangiovese grape should be served after spending about 30 minutes in the refrigerator. All of these wines are readily available in most retail outlets for prices that average less that $20 per bottle.
2012 Kim Crawford Chardonnay Unoaked (South Island, New Zealand)
As the label reads, this Chardonnay is completely unoaked, which means it was aged in a non-oak barrel. That difference insures that the wine retains a crisp acidity and a lovely apple-like freshness.
2012 Honig Sauvignon Blanc (Napa Valley, California)
It can be argued that Honig Winery makes perhaps the Napa Valley’s finest, unoaked and most refreshing white wine from 100-percent Sauvignon Blanc grapes.
2013 Castello Banfi Pinot Grigio “San Angelo” (Tuscany, Italy)
There are innumerable Pinot Grigios on most retail wine seller’s shelves, but this single-vineyard wine from Banfi’s Tuscan estate is my hands down favorite thanks to its rich, full flavor and lively, savory finish.
2013 La Spinetta Moscato d’Asti (Piedmont, Italy)
Piedmont’s La Spinetta Estate is one of Italy’s premier wineries. Their rendition of the increasingly popular Moscato d’Asti represents everything that is enjoyable from the ancient Moscato grape: very aromatic, slightly bubbly (frizzante), low in alcohol and absolutely delicious.
2012 Di Majo Norante Sangiovese (Molise, Italy)
This 100-percent unoaked beauty from Italy’s Molise province is the only red in this group. It is light on the palate, full of flavor, pure in its Sangiovese red fruits and, like all the whites listed above, it is best when served quite cool.
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David Black has served as an instructor and lecturer at the Rosen College of Hospitality Management at the University of Central Florida since 2009. Black has more than 30 years of experience in fine wine and spirits, including an intensive, five-year Master of Wine Program, studying viticulture, winery techniques, business, blind tasting and evaluation. He has also traveled extensively to major wine regions in France, Italy, Germany, Spain and California. Click here for more information about the Rosen College Wine Education Program.
We had a chance to visit Chef Jamie McFadden, award-winning Executive Chef and Founder of the Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine & Events in Winter Park Florida. In this segment, he shares how he got started, his early influences and how he came up with the name for his business.
Check our previous interviews by following links:
We are so excited to be a part of the Taste of the Nation® Orlando 25th Anniversary Celebration featuring Food Network celebrity chef Melissa d’Arabian and more than 30 of Central Florida’s finest chefs! The proceeds from the event will benefit Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. To meet your favorite local chefs, sample great dishes and most importantly to help end childhood hunger, join us this Saturday, August 9th at the Orlando World Center Marriott, 8701 World Center Dr. For event details and to purchase your tickets, follow this link.
As you arrive at Lolailo The Original, you will be greeted by Cesar Lopez Perez. He spoke to us about the ambiance of the various dining rooms and Lolailo’s dedication to Spanish culture and traditional cuisine.
Brian Waggoner, Operating Partner of the Carmel Cafe & Wine Bar, shared some of the challenges he faces while managing a brand name restaurant. In addition to great food, he introduced us to a variety of specials prepared to entice customers to come in and have a great experience. To find out more about what it takes to run a restaurant, watch our video.
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