Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month presented by American Express is kicking off the celebration with a preview week beginning August 24th and continuing through September 30th.
Now in it’s 13th year, Magical Dining shows off the city’s amazing culinary scene with over 100 restaurants participating with special three-course menus, all for the fixed price of $35. There are dishes to please every palate and every diet including gluten-free, vegetarian, and vegan.
I had an opportunity to preview the menu from Bulla Gastrobar in Winter Park. Bulla features Spanish and Portuguese cuisine, and the Magical Dining menu did not disappoint.
Featured appetizers included a Cheese and Cured Meat Plate, Huevos Cabreados, and Veggie Flatbread. The Huevos Cabreados featured shrimp and shoestring potatoes in a spicy Brava paprika sauce while the Flatbread showcased fresh veggies such as eggplant, red peppers, and onions. The Flatbread can also be made without the cheese for a Vegan diet.
Entrees on the Magical Dining menu included Shrimp Al Romesco (Spanish red sauce), Salmon with Lemon Creme, Braised Brisket Caldoso (brothy rice), and Pintxo & Avocado Toast. The word “Pintxo” means “spike” and translates to skewered food. Cumin marinated chicken skewers served over avocado toast and tomato salad makes for a beautiful but light dish.
And the Braised Brisket Caldoso can be turned into a Vegan dish substituting shishito peppers and crispy kale for the brisket.
The third course, dessert, was a choice between Churros Con Chocolate or Crema Catalana, a Spanish style custard with burnt sugar and berries. If you are a Vegan, ask for the Poached Pear with Raspberry Sauce.
Many of the restaurants participating in Orlando’s Magical Dining Month will accommodate gluten free and Vegetarian/Vegan diets, simply ask your server for more details as many of the restricted option are not featured in the menu. A few of the restaurants recommend reservations, simply ask for the Magical Dining menu when being seated.
This is a perfect opportunity to enjoy some of the area restaurants for a discounted price while contributing to a local charity. This year, $1 from every meal ordered during Orlando’s Magical Dining Month will be donated to two local charities – Best Buddies and the Down Syndrome Association of Central Florida.
For more information on Orlando’s Magical Dining Month, please visit the Visit Orlando Magical Dining Month website.
[Photos courtesy of Anna-Marie Walsh for CitySurfing Orlando]
Disclaimer: The author attended a media event where she sampled the menu. As always, her opinions are honest, and her own.
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