Great Dates Orlando

Wine, Chocolate, and Cheese Pairing Class

It's the ultimate trifecta of indulgence... wine, chocolate, and cheese! This fabulous pairing class will take place at East End Market on Thursday,  May 1st from 7-9pm.

Each attendee will enjoy 5 Quantum Leap wines expertly paired with 4 chocolate and 4 cheese pairings. 

The pairing class will be curated and taught by Jill Ramsier, co-founder of Quantum Leap Winery, Lisa Wilk, founder of Orlando Uncorked and wine educator, and Tonda Corrente aka "The Cheese Lady," owner of La Femme Du Fromage. 

Tickets are $45 and are available here.   

PeachDish… Date Night Delivered

I’m always looking for fun ways to jazz up at-home date nights because, let’s face it, sometimes getting a sitter and spending all sorts of money to go out just isn’t in the cards.  

After I blogged about dinner delivery kits by Blue Apron and Hello Fresh, the folks behind PeachDish reached out to see if I would test-drive their product. They sent me a box and I was impressed.

PeachDish does the home dinner delivery thing a little differently. Yes, you still get all the (mostly organic) ingredients for a dinner for two, much of it already pre-measured, but in this company’s case the menus are not a surprise; they are posted on the website and emailed out a few days before the order deadline.

While I sort of like the surprise element that Blue Apron and Hello Fresh deliver, I know that pickier eaters will appreciate the choice that PeachDish provides.

For instance, this week’s menu is Homemade Pita Chips with Herb Goat Cheese Lemon-Dill Chicken and Orzo Soup PLUS Kale Salad with Pecans and Kumquats Pecan-Crusted Mahi-Mahi Potato and Turnip Mash with Horseradish.

If that sound enticing, you just order by midnight on Monday and the box complete with everything you need to whip up two gourmet feasts arrives on your doorstep on Thursday.

Cost is $50/week (that’s $25 per meal) and there is no minimum obligation. You can cancel any time.

It’s good price for a turnkey date night ideal for couples who love to cook together. And as an added bonus, if you love the recipe you make you can add it to your regular repertoire of dinners.

For more details visit www.peachdish.com.

 

Date Night Cooking Class at East End Market

Bring your sweetie to East End Market for a culinary date night designed to up your epicurean skills and your love of local food. Hosted by Great Dates Orlando’s Kristen Manieri, this hands-on class gives couples the opportunity to create a four-course feast under the expert tutelage of East End Market’s Chef-in-Residence, Jes Tantalo.

We’ll kick off the night at 7pm by creating an appetizer perfect for noshing while we sip some spirits and dive into the menu sourced almost entirely from East End’s gourmet purveyors downstairs.

Then we’ll enjoy the fruits of our labor together while Kristen reveals a few little surprises perfect for making the night even more memorable.

The $120 class fee includes utensils, recipes, ingredients and sit-down dinner for two, but is BYOS (bring your own spirits). Register HERE.

We encourage you to arrive a little early in order to visit Local Roots at East End Market where you’ll find a fabulous selection of craft beers and wines to enjoy during your class.

 

Meet Orlando’s Date Night Chef

For more than 30 years, Central Florida residents Bruce Cadle and his wife Valerie have had a Friday date night ritual that they’ve almost never missed: they stay at home and cook a romantic meal together. With absolutely no formal culinary training to help him, the self-taught gourmand used only his palate and his creativity to guide him. In 2011, he chronicled his cooking in a cookbook titled, Party for Two: Fun, Fancy & Easy Romantic Recipes from the Date Night Chef.  
 
With today being Valentine’s Day and knowing that many will be celebrating at home, I thought it was a good time to share Bruce’s book and the inspiration behind his steadfast commitment to date night. (BTW: here's a link to many of Bruce's romantic recipes in case you need help with tonight's plans).
 
“Early on our marriage we quickly realized that Valerie and I loved being together but we had stopped dating once we got married. We were together a lot but that was being together in our regular, daily lives versus setting aside special time to focus just on each other,” Bruce says. “I realized that we needed to start setting aside date night time on a regular basis but we couldn’t afford to go to restaurants and have a sitter so we stayed home.”
 
At first Valerie was doing all the cooking, just as she did all the other six nights of the week, but soon Bruce happily took over the task. “I just started watching cooking shows and creating my own spin on dishes.” After a while, fans of his Facebook page started requesting his recipes so he decided he better write them down and voila… a cookbook was born! Bruce and I chatted yesterday and I hope you'll enjoy this Q&A based on that conversation.
 
Why do you think food and romance go hand-in-hand?
I think food, even if it’s not roast beef or mac n’ cheese, it’s all comforting, and it really does give us pleasure. So to have a night dedicated to our favorite foods, recipes and wines feels very good.
 
Any tips for having a great date night dinner at home?
We start planning early in the week, typically based on what’s available or on sale at our local market. If they have lobster on sale, we have lobster. The planning relieves the stress and makes it easier to get the ingredients together during the week. And I plan the courses so that there might be one thing that’s a little complicated and a few easy things. I try to think through the timing. And getting really great ingredients makes a big difference too. Everything just tastes better.
 
What if a couple is just a pair of bad cooks?
I couldn’t cook at all when we started this. I learned as I went. I don’t think anyone has the excuse of having to remain a bad cook. There are so many resources available than ever in the history of the world, including cookbooks, online courses and cooking shows.
 
How did you pick the recipes in your book?
They are all our favorites, and they’re almost all really easy. The easier the recipe the more relaxing date night is. I don’t want date night to be stressful so I am a proponent of keeping things simple and building on your experience.
 
What’s the secret to your 38-year marriage?
My parents were divorced after 29 years of marriage and I decided that I was never going to do that. We’ve had hard times—health, finances, each other—it hasn’t always been an easy road. But divorce was never an option. It’s always been a forever commitment. And we’ve really tried to serve the other person, always asking what can I do for you rather than what can you do for me.
 
Where can people get your cookbook?
Best place is Amazon. It usually sells for $14.95 or less if it’s on sale. 

East End Market Launches Culinary Classes

I've been anxiously awaiting the unveiling of East End’s culinary classes ever since the local food hub opened a few months ago. Finally, they are here! Here’s what’s on deck for the next several weeks:
 
Culinary Skills Series: Knife Skills 
Jan 11
10:00 am - 12:00 pm
$40 per person
Which knife for which cut? Which cut is which cut? Learn the lingo and the tricks of how to safely navigate your recipes that require sharp objects. You’ll learn how to: julienne (onion, pepper, carrot, herbs), battonet (potato) and dice all sizes (zucchini), tackle big hard root veggies, and clean large leafy greens, melons and citrus. And if that is still too tricky…you’ll learn how to cheat with a mandoline.
 
Turnip Your Resolution 
Jan 15
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
$45 per person
Turnips! Those bitter beauties!  What to do with winter’s lonely root veg and the luscious greens atop? Want to get comfy with getting from shelf to plate? Learn several preparation techniques including roasting, mashing, baking and even a great raw preparation.   You’ll learn how to make and taste: Salt and Pepper Parmesan Roast, Smashed Apple Turnips, Turnip Potato Gratin and Raw Rutabaga and Turnip Toss
 
Big Wheel Series: Working with a Whole Chicken 
Jan 16
6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
$55 per person
Join Guest Chef Tony Adams (Big Wheel Provisions and Food Truck) in a hands-on class to develop one of the most useful and economical kitchen skills: breaking down and preparing a whole chicken. Participants will learn how to break a whole bird down, make a from-scratch stock, and prepare different recipes, under the guidance of and award-winning chef. The price of admission will include all necessary classroom materials and two whole chickens to work with during the class. Participants with their own preferred set of knives are encouraged to bring them along.
 
Big Wheel Series: Whole Hog Butchery Class 
Jan 23 6:00 pm - 9:00 pm
$60 per person
Join Award-Winning Guest Chef Tony Adams (Big Wheel Provisions and Food Truck) for an in-depth preview of the Big Wheel Whole Hog Dinner. In preparation for the dinner, Chef Adams will show guests how he goes from a whole hog to recipe-ready cut. The live demonstration will include the butchering, different preparation techniques, and tastings. Additional hoers d’ oeuvres will be provided, and guests are invited to BYOB.  Want to round out the experience? Guests who purchase tickets to the Whole Hog Dinner will receive a discount code for $25 off this class!
 
Bodacious Broths and Sultry Stocks 
Feb 6
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
$75 per person
Elevate the flavor while utilizing scraps and bones! Nothing goes to waste and all you need is time.  How to make a great stock, and tailor it to your taste buds.  When to use and how to store! The class includes the ingredients, utensils and tastes of your creations: chicken stock, vegetable broth, veal stock.
 
Brunch & Learn 
Feb 9
11:00 am - 1:00 pm
$55 per person
Study your coffee, Brew it just right, We have the whiskey To make it taste right. Eggs are poached, muffins are split, you will be coached, ‘til master of it. Come perfect your eggs benny with us at our bimonthly “Brunch & Learns!”  Class begins with all you need to know about the perfect cup of coffee from Lineage Coffee Roasting. Then, Winter Park Distilling whips up a craft Irish Coffee. Once the liquid courage has set in, we will learn the art of the poached egg and hollandaise sauce. Fresh English muffins from Olde Hearth Bread Company begin the build your own Benedict bar to complete the ensemble.  *Afternoon naps not included. Limited seating available.
 
All Hail to Kale 
Feb 12
6:30 pm - 8:30 pm
$55 per person
Bursting with benefits, it’s tough to find something kale doesn’t go well with.  In this hail to the kale event we will be crunching, massaging, sipping and slurping its majesty.  On the menu: Kale Chips, Kale Smoothie or Juice, Raw Kale Salad (make first, take home eat tomorrow), Andouille & White Bean Stew with kale (sweet potato, celery, pearl onion).
 
For more information, registration instructions, and to see the full list of event and classes, visit http://eastendmkt.com/events-classes/events-calendar/
 

Upcoming Cooking Classes at Truffles and Trifles

As one of the only permanent cooking schools for non-chefs in the Orlando, Truffles and Trifles is practically a culinary institution for those seeking to up their epicurean know-how. More than 20 classes are typically offered each month. Here are a few on the horizon:

Holiday Side Dishes
Sunday, December 22, 6:3pm
$55 per person

30-Minute Meals
Tuesday, January 7, 6:30pm
$50 per person

Date Night Cooking Class
Saturday, January 18, 6:30pm
$130 per couple

More info at www.trufflesandtrifles.com. 

The Wine Room Unveils New Wine Classes

I am so psyched to learn that The Wine Room in Winter Park has begun offering classes again. Designed to broaden your knowledge of wine, these intimate events are held in The Vault and are limited to a small group of participants.

Here’s a list of what’s on deck:

CHEESE & CHOCOLATE TASTING
December 2, 2013
6:30pm – 8:30
$45
This is a tasting for the foodies of the world, the die-hard cheese and chocolate addict, or those just looking for a little culinary adventure. Discover artisanal cheeses and specifically paired accoutrements along with the chocolates that complement them best. 

HOLIDAY ENTERTAINING WITH WINE AND CHEESE
December 9, 2013
6:30pm – 8:30
$100
Learn about wine and cheese, experiment with new or unusual wine varietals, and maybe even decide on the wines and cheeses that you would like to serve at your own up coming holiday parties and feasts. 

CHAMPAGNE & CHEESE TASTING
December 11, 2013
6:30pm – 8:30
$45
Maitre Fromager Waldemar Albrecht is your host for this informal, innovative matching of Champagnes and Cheeses when you will discover the best combinations of artisanal cheeses with a selection of different Champagnes. 

BEER & CHEESE TASTING
December 16, 2013
6:30pm – 8:30
$45
Take the chill off winter with a pairing of robust, full-flavored craft beers and hearty cheeses. Guests will sample a variety of cheeses each paired with a selected craft beer. 

For tickets and information, call 407-696-9463.

Chocolate Making and Wine Pairing Class

Chocolate and wine… it’s a match made in heaven. We’re bringing the two worlds together for a very special Chocolate Making and Wine Pairing class on Saturday, May 18 at Farris and Foster’s Chocolate Factory’s Baldwin Park location.  

Beginning at 8pm, couples will arrive at their station complete with everything they need to make four different chocolate creations using dark, milk, and white chocolate. Along the way, experts from the Rioja wine region of Spain will be pairing wines and sharing insights about which combinations work best.  

Cost is just $29 per couple.  

All evening long, couples will be nibbling chocolate and sipping wine… what could be more decadent than that?  At the end of this 90-minute affair, couples can depart with a half-pound of the chocolate treats they’ve created. 

Click here for more information and to purchase tickets. 

 

Couple at Large: Griffin Cooking School Class

By Lauren Muench

** Each month, Great Dates Orlando sends a different couple on an awesome date night. This Couple at Large then shares their experience on the blog. For April, we sent Lauren Muench and her boyfriend, Justin, to The Griffin Cooking School at Grande Lakes' JW Marriott. Here’s what Lauren had to say about the experience:

Last weekend, I had the wonderful opportunity of attending a class presented by The Griffin Cooking School at Grande Lakes' JW Marriott. On the menu? SUSHI!

The event was held on Saturday, April 13 from 1-4pm in the Citron Restaurant located inside the beautiful JW Marriott hotel. In case you missed it, The Griffin Cooking School offers cooking classes once or twice a month. You can check out the schedule here. 

For our Sushi Class, we were presented with a packet outlining the order of events, a few sushi-making essentials, and of course, many of the sushi fix-ins.

Chef’s Takashi and Chau stood before us and explained a wide variety of information, including how to prepare sushi rice, where to purchase and how to filet the best sushi-grade fish, and finally, how to prepare our very own sushi rolls. Oh, and did I mention we were offered UNLIMITED WINE throughout the entire class? Definitely a bonus.

Our first roll that we learned how to prepare was a Spicy Tuna Hand Roll, made with rice, cucumber, and spicy tuna. I've never actually tried a hand roll before and I was pleasantly surprised. It was absolutely delicious and a wonderful start to the meal.

We were then instructed how to make a California roll, which would later transform into a Rainbow Roll. This was my absolute favorite roll of the class, made with lump crabmeat (no imitation krab here.), perfectly ripe avocado, and some of the freshest slices of sashimi I’ve honestly ever had.

Our final roll that we learned how to prepare was a Vegetable roll. Justin and I kind of cheated and added the remaining spicy tuna and sashimi slices to this roll. Making the various types of rolls was definitely the highlight of the class for both of us.

After we were stuffed beyond belief, then came the sake tasting. They provided us with 8 different types of sake to sample. Yes... eight different types of sake. We were definitely a fun crowd by the time this class was finished.

The Griffin Cooking School Sushi Class was one of the most fun and interesting things I have ever done. Justin and I have always wanted to learn how to make sushi and I felt like this class was perfect for us. Takashi and the rest of the Griffin Cooking School staff were extremely helpful and informative and offered assistance throughout the entire class to anyone who needed it (ahem… like myself).

Justin and I could not stop talking about how fun this class was and how we would have gladly spent the money to attend. I feel like this was the perfect date activity because it was something so different than anything we have ever done and it was fun getting to learn something new together.

I would absolutely recommend these classes for any couple looking to have a great time and try something fun and different. Thank you Kristen and Great Dates Orlando for this amazing opportunity.

Sushi Date Night at Sushi House

I expected to learn a thing or two about sushi during a recent visit to Sushi House to attend the Sushi Date Night. To say that I was not disappointed would be the understatement of the century; I could not have been more surprised and delighted by all the extras the evening entailed.

Couples fork over $80 to participate in this two-hour event, which takes place on select Monday nights each month at Sushi House’s location by Florida Mall. For that fee, they get a sort-of-from-scratch, hands-on schooling in the art of creating five different items.

I say ‘sort of from scratch’ because each couple is given a kit filled with prepared components such as balls of pre-rolled rice and containers of premixed sauces. If you’re the type that would rather start from scratch, opt for the Sushi Class instead, which I'm told is much more technical. The next Sushi Class is scheduled on Saturday, April 20 from noon-2pm. 

I actually liked skipping some of the more mundane tasks to be able to jump right into putting things like volcano rolls together. And it also meant that we got to the eating part more quickly, which, truthfully, was my favorite.

It’s definitely a casual, lighthearted affair thanks to the humor and personal stories that instructor Dun Chau weaves into his instruction. As he demonstrates a rolling or cutting technique, don’t be surprised when he tosses in a language lesson or imparts some sage advice about acceptable codes of conduct in the Japanese sushi culture. Dousing your sushi in soy sauce, for example, is a no no. You’re only supposed to use a teaspoon for your entire meal.

I also walked away with some great tips for enjoying sushi more, such as always taking the first bite soy sauce free to really enjoy its full flavor, and also chewing a little ginger to cleanse the palate when going from something spicy to something bland.

The night wrapped up with a Saki lesson and tasting, which was equally as enlightening to a total Saki dummy like me. Thankfully, the fact that I have never ordered Saki has possibly saved me from the utter embarrassment of ordering it warm, which Dun says Americans frequently do, much to the chagrin of the chef.

People tell me all the time that when it comes to date night, they want an experience. I would tell those people to check out Sushi Date Night. Part cooking class, part culture lesson, and part etiquette tutorial, the Sushi Date Night at Sushi House is as much of a treat for the palate as it is for the mind. It’s officially date night approved.