Orlando Area Dining News Round-Up For January 15, 2021: Gideon’s Bakehouse, Portillo’s, Major’s Project Pop, And More .. #OrlandoRestaurants #OrlandoFoodies

- Michelle Snow

Gideon's Bakehouse - Santas White Christmas cookie

Here is the latest Central Florida foodie and dining news to report on new restaurants, limited time menu items, vegan offerings, grand openings, and so much more.

Are you hungry? Let’s dive in…

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Gideon’s Bakehouse is reopening its doors at Disney Springs and is hosting a grand opening celebration this Saturday, January 16. Here’s what you need to know:

There will be FIVE limited edition flavors added to the menu for this day only. They are:
• FRANKENSTEIN!??
• SANTA’S WHITE CHRISTMAS??
• COFFEE CAKE COOKIE (Beyond just the morning!)??
• CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER SWIRL??
• COFFEE TOFFEE CHOCOLATE CHIP??
There is a limit of 2 per flavor and 10 total cookies per person.

  • FREE Peanut Butter Buttercream Dip for the first 250 Transactions
  • Cake slices available will be Red Velvet, Key Lime Pie Cake, and The Peanut Butter Banana Double Frosted Chocolate Cake
  • First 1000 transactions will get a free commemorative Limited Edition 11×14 Art Print of Gideon’s Gargoyle, signed and numbered by artist Michael Reyes, and a Free 4 x 5 Inch Gideon’s Gargoyle Sticker.
  • For late-comers, there will be an extended Hot Cookie Hour with Homemade Ice Cream from 7pm to 9pm.
  • Gideon’s Cold Brew Coffee will be available in Peanut Butter, Ginger Snap, and Gideon’s White.

The Disney Springs parking garages open at 9am. Temperature checks and masks are required for exiting into Disney Springs. Gideon’s opens at 10am.

Once the line hits a certain point, they will begin entering people into a Virtual Queue. The Queue is an in-person sign-up – it can not be done from home. You will see a sign and their staff holding iPads near the end of the line. ????

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Portillo’s has announced their first Orlando area location will open on March 2 at 7715 Palm Parkway.

If you can’t wait that long to try their famous Chicago-style hot dogs and Italian beef sandwiches, they’re setting up their mobile bus near Lake Eola at 512 East Washington Street from January 21-24, and again from January 27-30 during the following hours:

Jan. 21 – Lunch 11am-4pm
Jan. 22 – Dinner 3pm-8pm
Jan. 23 – Dinner 3pm-8pm
Jan. 24 – Lunch 11am-4pm
Jan. 27 – Lunch 11am-4pm
Jan. 28 – Lunch 11am- 4pm
Jan. 29 – Dinner 3pm-8pm
Jan. 30 – Dinner 3pm-8pm

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Local small-batch vegan popcorn brand Major’s Project Pop is celebrating National Popcorn Day with a giveaway. Any online popcorn purchase made on January 19 will enter snackers into a contest to win the Snack for a Year giveaway featuring free popcorn for a year and Snack Dealer merchandise valued at $210. The winner will be announced on Thursday, January 22 at 7pm EST via their Instagram. Order via the link above.

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It may be called The Milk District, but for the month of January, they Orlando Mainstreet District is adopting the moniker The Almond District as neighborhood’s restaurants, bars, and stores will offer a variety of plant-based/vegan-friendly options throughout the month. For menu lists and discounts, visit the link above.

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American Social Orlando is extending its weekend brunch to Monday for the holiday weekend. Enjoy dishes such as Cinnamon French Toast Crunch ($15.5) or Breakfast Pizza ($14.25), along with unlimited mimosas ($15), Jan 16-18, 2021 from 11am to 4pm daily.

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Rodizio Grill Brazilian Steakhouse at Pointe Orlando is offering a Full Rodizio dinner for $29.99 per adult on Martin Luther King Jr Day on January 18. That’s a $13 savings on unlimited Brazilian sides, salads, and over a dozen rotisserie-grilled meats carved tableside. Plus one child will also eat free per paying adult. Reservations recommended at the link above.

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Terralina Crafted Italian at Disney Springs is offering the following January specials:

Jan. 20 — National Cheese Lover’s Day — Charcuterie Boards, $15.00 all day.
Jan. 23 — National Pie Day – Dessert Pizza (cinnamon apples, white chocolate drizzle and garnished with fresh mint) for $12.00 all day.
Jan. 27 — National Chocolate Cake Day — Complimentary slice of chocolate cake with the purchase of two Entrees or Pastas.

Plus…Disney Vacation Club members will enjoy an increased discount of 20% on all food and beverage totals for the month of January and Levy Preferred members will receive TRIPLE points during the month of January when dining for lunch.

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Paddlefish at Disney Springs is offering the following January specials:

Jan. 23 — National Pie Day — Half-off our famous Key Lime Pie with the purchase of an adult entree.
Jan. 27 — National Chocolate Cake Day — Half-off slices of chocolate cake with the purchase of an adult entrée.

Plus…Disney Vacation Club members will enjoy an increased discount of 20% on all food and beverage totals for the month of January and Levy Preferred members will receive TRIPLE points during the month of January when dining for lunch.

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Everglazed Donuts & Cold Brew is now open at Disney Springs, next to the AMC Theater and Splitsville. While the new eatery specializes in donuts and coffee drinks (plus combos of the two), they also have a small menu of sandwiches and fries (loaded and not). I’ll be checking it out this weekend, but if you get there before me, let me know what you think.

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New limited time menu items at Disney Springs include:

Butter Chicken Poutine at The Daily Poutine and the Pepperoni Pizza Burger is back at D-Luxe Burger.

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Wawa has brought back brisket for a limited time. Get it in a BBQ sandwich, or with toppings in a bowl over your choice of mac and cheese, mashed potatoes, or grits.

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SoFresh, a health-centered restaurant brand, has opened this week at 4756 S. Florida Ave. in Lakeland, in the Lake Miriam Plaza. Their menu offers hot bowls, salads, wraps, broth bowls, smoothies and juices.

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Speaking of Lakeland, foodies will want to check out Lakeland Restaurant Week 2021 which will run January 25-31. Participating restaurants will offer prix fixe dinner menus ranging from $20 to $35 per person. Visit the link above for all the details.

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The Haven Coffee Roasters will be opening a brick and mortar location soon in Winter Haven. They’re renovating The Edward Jones building on 3rd St, and will have space to continue to roast their coffee, as well as serve it. In the meantime, you can still find them at the Winter Haven Farmers Market and online.

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About Michelle Snow

Michelle is the owner and editor of CitySurfing Orlando. She also owns Zengrrl.com, is a freelance writer specializing in travel and entertainment, and has authored/co-authored four guidebooks on Orlando and Florida. She lives in Orlando near Disney, and hears Magic Kingdom fireworks every night.
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