Last night was a special one!
As you may know, Ryan and I try to take turns planning a special date night for the other person every other month. Well, August was my month for date night and I had an awesome event up my sleeves.
Just in case you’re a new reader, her are some throw back links to some of the first date night posts that popped up on PBF:
- Festival of Trees at the Orlando Museum of Art
- Corn Maze!
- Winter Park Boat Tour & Dinner at Luma
- Dinner at the Capital Grille
- Straight No Chaser Concert
- Dinner at Season’s 52 (I know, I’m obsessed…)
- The Best One (Ryan’s scavenger hunt that ended in a proposal)
Taste of the Nation Orlando
Last night Ryan and I attended Taste of the Nation, an annual event that occurs around the United States and Canada, featuring the most amazing food and drinks from local leading restaurants. The food is gourmet eating at its finest and the atmosphere is vibrant, classy and fun!
Ryan and I attended the event thanks to the wonderful Katy Widrick who reached out to me with complimentary tickets. We were so stoked because the event is quite pricy.
But it’s pricy for a great reason.
Taste of the Nation is a culinary benefit that raises money to help end childhood hunger in America. One hundred percent of ticket proceeds from Taste of the Nation go toward this amazing cause. In Orlando, proceeds benefited the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida and the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida.
Just look how much food one ticket to Taste of the Nation provides!
(Side note: I totally touched stilt man’s butt on accident when we were taking this picture. I didn’t know where to put my hands! He had no reachable waist!)
Ryan and I have attended some food-related events in the past and have left feeling almost ill because we ate so much. We went into last night with a plan… kind of. We said we’d eat only entrée-type dishes first and then tackle desserts since we can throw back desserts like it’s cool.
Our first stop took us to a booth from A Land Remembered, a gourmet steakhouse in south Orlando.
I grabbed short ribs while Ryan nabbed crusted ahi tuna with creek slaw, sesame ponzu and a wasabi cracker.
Both were delicious, but the tuna was one of our favorite dishes of the evening. The wasabi cracker and sesame ponzu were unreal.
What a way to kick off the night!
We ate more and more before hitting another highlight.
The next dish that blew us away was both of our favorite of the evening.
BBQ pork belly (apparently we’re huge pork belly fans!?) from the Technical Education Center of Osceola County. Clearly they’re teaching their students right!
We tried our best to stick to our “eat only entrée dishes before desserts” plan, but totally abandoned it after about five entrées. We wanted to try the desserts and couldn’t be stopped!
Dark chocolate mousse from Whole Foods. One of my favorite dishes of the night!
Another favorite: Flan with a layer of flourless chocolate cake and a white chocolate and coconut crisp crust from the Renaissance Hotels. Un…be…leivable.
Dessert double dipping. That’s how I roll.
Ryan and I also took advantage of the free drinks. Wine, local beer and mixed drinks were flowing!
My favorite drink of the evening was Magners pear cider.
It was sweet without being overly fruity and so delicious. Ryan liked Magners apple cider a lot.
Some fun facts about Magners:
- Magners contains 4.5% alcohol. Beer generally falls between 3.5% – 4.2%.
- Beer is made from barley, hops, yeast and water. Cider is made from apples.
- Magners is the only Irish cider in US.
- Magners is Gluten-Free and contains no artificial flavors, colors or sweeteners.
I think these beverages would be perfect to serve in the fall, around Halloween or Thanksgiving. Mmm.
We continued sampling dishes for a couple of hours before our stomachs told us “no more!”
Parmesan risotto. Oh yes.
Shrimp and grits. A southern favorite!
Taste of the Nation was really such an incredible event. Thank you so much to Katy for allowing us to attend and eat our way through Orlando in one room!
Even though our stomachs were about to pop, Ryan and I couldn’t resist grabbing some caramel ice cream on our way out.
Not a bad way to end a phenomenal date night, huh?
We were stuffed to the brim and totally happy.
If there’s a Taste of the Nation even in your area, I wholeheartedly recommend attending. Not only is the benefit for an amazing cause, but it’s a fun night full of the most delicious food. I really hope Ryan and I make this an annual event!
P.S. The Fashion page was updated this morning!
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Mmm everything looks delicious!
I LOVE YOUR DRESS TOO! The color looks fabulous on you!
omg Julie how fun 🙂 I wish Chicago had something like that- although we may and I just don’t know about it ha! great pictures girl- and wow love the dress! Where is it from?!
ah sorry! the fashion page was just updated with all the info: https://www.pbfingers.com/2011/08/07/taste-of-the-nation-dress/
Cait – we actually do have one. It’s this coming week. I looked into going but the tix are $95/person. I’m sure it would be worth it though. http://www.strength.org/chicago/
if you guys have foodbuzz as your advertiser on your blog, you can try applying for press passes to the event!
I’m obsessed with your dress. If it’s from ruelala, I feel like I am constantly overlooking these dresses you always find!
haha it is another ruelala find! :o)
That event sounds incredible and I’m so happy that it actually happens in CANADA! It seems like a lot of blogger events are only in the States and bloggers from the north get the shaft on big events like conferences.
Looks like a lot of fun, with tons of great food! I’m glad you guys had a great date night. 🙂
I love events like this! There’s one in Dublin called Taste.
Oh WOW! That is soo cool. And I LOVE your dress.
Date night is the bomb 🙂
Can I have some dessert too, please?! hah.
This event looks amazing! my city does something like this every year. That dress is killer as well 🙂
LOL I almost spit my breakfast out laughing about your comment about touching the stilt guy’s butt!! That is hilarious! Loved your dress too! Looked like a fun event, I’ll have to check to see if they have one up here in NC.
Fun fun fun! I love events like that! But just like you, I have a hard time staying in control. I always leave too full. 🙂
Magner’s is great! That and Original Sin.
Awesomeee evening…love your dress, such a vibrant color!
Sounds like you had an awesome date night 🙂
I love Magners! Its one of the better ciders that we get here in Canada. So crisp and cool. Try making it into a Snake Bite sometime – mix half a glass of cider with half a glass of lager. Very good!
omg that looks/sounds amazing!! i just checked the website and there are no events in St. Louis or even in MO. 🙁 you looked gorgeous, as always…. ummm can you please share when you buy something on ruelala like the day of instead of after so i (fashion moron) has a chance! haha your wardrobe is amazing! have a great day!
What a fun event! Looks like a great date night to me! And yes, your dress, very cute! Not many people can pull off that color either, and you totally did!
Wow! Looks like such a fun date night.:)
Great date night, we do the same thing and plan for each other every other month – I love it!
I love food events like this, we only have that is just before Christmas and is all desserts – it is my favorite event of the year!
That looks SO fun! Foodie events are fun no matter if you’re a food or not. It’s like Disney for adults 🙂
Oh man, I missed the one near me! That food looks amazing. Great date night idea!
Great job planning date night, Julie! This looks like such a fun and unique idea! All the food looks awesome. And that dress looks great on you!
Looks like so much fun! Too bad I just missed the one near here…
I am SOOOOOO jealous!!!! I have always wanted to go to one of these events when they’re in DC, but we’ve never been able to afford the tickets! We are going to the Food & Wine Festival at Disney World in October, though…that’s about as close to a fancy tasting event we’ve gotten to. All of that food looks amazing (and I would have gone straight for the desserts, too).
Hi Julie! I volunteered at Taste of the Nation last year and it was a blast. It was only a few hours of work. At the end, each volunteer got a FREE ticket to one of the events that weekend for Taste of the Nation!
It was a blast.
All of that food looks incredible!
And I just love that you and Ryan do these fun types of dates — you sure picked a good event!
What an awesome event!! Thanks for the info about Magner’s, too! I have been looking for a gluten free “malt” drink 🙂
it’s delicious!!
My friend introduced to me that Magner’s Pear Cider awhile back. A local bar we went to had it on tap (which is better than in the bottle.) I would drink them ALL night long. Then I found out one bottle has 200 calories and about died. 🙂
I did the same!! I was studying abroad in England when I discovered ciders (so many good ones in Europe that aren’t here in the States!) They don’t put nutritional facts on their alcoholic beverages across the pond… It took me a while and a few extra pounds to also realize how “unhealthy” cider is! I now just have it as a treat. 🙂
Uhoh! Yeah I have no idea what the nutritional stats are on ciders!
Your dress is beautiful 🙂 That looks like so much fun – and that dark chocolate mousse looks to die for!
Your dress is so beautiful, you two look fantastic together! This is a great food porn post haha… the chocolate mousse must have been to die for 🙂
Haha I want to go back and re-eat everything!!
I love the idea of taking turns planning a monthly date night! How fun! 🙂
Thanks for sharing, both now and previously, about your date night ritual, and how you came about starting this. I feel like establishing something like this in my own relationship could work wonders. I really appreciate your honesty and reading about your fun nights out!
haha! You touched his butt??? Maybe thats why he’s smiling so big in the picture. lol jk 😛 Looks like you guys had a great date night- all the food looked delicious!
Have a great Sunday!
Wow so much food! I would die and go to heaven probably haha 🙂 I would leave with such a full tummy I bet haha. Looks like such yummy food everywhere though! Great date night idea.
Where to begin?!? I am so jealous!!! Those shrimp and grits looked amazing! Reminds me of SC where I went to school! Wish I was back there now eating some! I’ll have to buy some grits now… And those desserts, it was making my mouth water! Haha. Hope you two had a wonderful time!
I love the dress, Julie! I’m beyond excited that so many designers are making 1960’s-inspired clothing this season. It’s definitely my favorite fashion era–so chic and classy. 🙂
Taste of the Nation sounds like an amazing event! The food looks to-die-for delicious, but what I like most is that 100% of the proceeds go to charity. That’s TRULY amazing.
You two lucked out!!!! How amazing! 🙂 I probably would have never tired an entree, just desserts. I have no willpower in situations like that! I just want a bite of EACH one!
That looks SO fun. Haha, double-fisting desserts – a girl after my own heart. I LOVE Magners. I used to drink pear all the time when I was studying in London.
If Ryan likes Magners, he should try Strongbow!
I’m so sad I missed that! I had no idea it was last night. Boo. 🙁
What an awesome night!! Everything looks amazing, and I love the orange dress on you!
cute dress!
btw, i totally just bought my tickets for the one coming in Baltimore. I’m such a foodie, I CAN NOT wait! Thanks for the post =)
This just made me so hungry. Looks like a wonderful date idea. You are two are just beyond adorable!
I got the package!!!!!!!
I love, love, love everything in it!!!!
I’ve designated a whole post to your package and it includes one big THANK YOU!!!!
I can’t wait to keep eating all of the goodies!
Happy Sunday.
P.S. Beautiful dress 🙂
Wow, that looks like so much fun! Beautiful dress- love the color!
How amazing are shrimp and grits? I tried it for the first time in New Orleans a little over a month ago and nearly licked my plate clean. I need to find a recipe for that sauce…
Yum!! Everything looks delicious. Love your dress, that’s one of my favorite colors!
Oh wow, all of that food looks awesome! LOVE your dress! You look so pretty :). I think I would have stuffed my face as much as possible haha
It looks like a delicious evening! And, I just had to share– in the picture of you “dessert double dipping,” I totally thought the guy standing back behind your left shoulder was a little figurine standing on top of your dessert cup. And then I laughed for 5 minutes when I realized he was a real person and not a random blue shirted/khaki pants wearing cake topper.
I thought the same thing – LOL!
Yuuum! I’m definitely looking into going in Baltimore!
that looks like SO much fun! I would love to go to an event like this. and I know I have said it before – but me, you, ryan, and peter would have a great time dining together. LOL
Wow this is a gorgeous ritual!!! What a fun and tasty night you both had! ^^
I was there as well! I had a great time, and I thought it was such a well-planned event. My tummy is so spoiled from all the yummy food!