Food & Wine Weekends at Waldorf Astoria Orlando – Global Venture Wine Pairing Dinner at Bull & Bear

Food and Wine Weekends at Waldorf Astoria Orlando is back for it’s fourth year and features special dinners on Fridays & Saturdays until November 9, 2014. This food and wine celebration is taking place at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando and Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek resorts. Food & Wine Weekends coincide with the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival taking place close by at Walt Disney World Resort. This year’s “Global Venture” Wine Pairing Dinner at Bull & Bear highlights a new menu every weekend.

 
Food & Wine Weekends at Waldorf Astoria Orlando

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I first experienced Food & Wine Weekends at Waldorf Astoria Orlando last year in 2013. A Taste of Waldorf Astoria was a menu that took you around the globe, visiting dishes from various Waldorf Astoria resorts.

 
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This year Bull & Bear presents a new menu each weekend, Global Venture – a Wine Pairing Dinner, which is an exclusive 3-course tasting menu, with wine pairings from around the world. Each food and wine pairing dinner is limited to 16 seats for a group dinner in a private dining room. The small group dinner with limited seats is how they can change the menu weekly, keeping it fresh and new. Each weekend has a specific theme with food created for that particular weekend and wines specifically paired. Menus can be previewed HERE.

 
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For the media dinner I attended, our themed evening was “Global Adventure” highlighting some of the best dishes that Bull & Bear offers and paired with global wines. At each dinner, a Team Captain is present to explain the each course and wine pairings. Don’t be shy to ask questions about the food or wine, they are here to guide you.

 
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We had a chance to preview the new Bull & Bear iPad menu, where each dish has photos and descriptions, along with a wine list with details about each wine.

 
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We started our Global Adventure with Amuse Bouche from the chef:

Cured Wagyu sirloin with romesco sauce
Mushroom sausage, fennel confit, on a parmesan cheese cracker

 
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Wisconsin Pride – A Cheddar Souffle with very young cheddar cheeses, 2 yr old cheddar and 4 yr old cheddar, both very mild, topped with roasted lava beans and pumpernickel croutons. This was paired with Unoaked Chardonnay, Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé, France 2012, which complimented the mild flavors of cheddar.

 
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Wine Pairings for Wisconsin Pride and Pasta Explosion, respectively.
Domaine Ferret Pouilly-Fuissé, France 2012 (left)
Domaine de Triennes Rosé, France 2013 (right)

 
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Pasta Explosion – Pata Negra de Bellota, Parmigianno Reggiano

One of my favorite menu items, the Pasta Explosions is a burst of rich and savory flavors. The Pata Negra de Bellota ham and Parmigianno Reggiano are decadent together. Each pasta is meant to be eaten in one bite and suggested not be broken open. Eat it in one bite, it’s so good!

 
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Bull & Bear Fried Chicken served with mashed potatoes and gravy made from foie gras (duck liver) and demi-glace. Paired wine is a L’Ecole Nº 41 Syrah, Walla Walla, Washington 2010, which is is 80% Syrah and 20% Grenache.

The chicken was brined, cooked sou vide for a precise time, then put in a buttermilk batter, corn flake and corn meal mixture and fried lightly. This created a juicy piece of chicken with deep chicken flavor, easy to cut through, light & crispy. The mashed potatoes and gravy of foie gras and demi-glace just amped up the dish with rich flavor. (This is added to the list for another must-try fried chicken dish in Orlando!)

 
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The Tomahawk, 38 oz. bone-in Ribeye

The Tomahawk bone-in Ribeye (meant for two people) is carved table-side, served with roasted garlic and warm Beef tallow for dipping and extra savoriness. I can’t say enough about how much I enjoy this steak and it’s presentation. It’s one of my favorite steaks to eat in Orlando and I was excited to see it as part of our dinner that evening. I’ve had it in the past on my birthday, so it’s definitely something to order on a special evening or when you want to share a really great steak.

 
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The The Tomahawk Ribeye was paired with a Jekyll & Hyde Shiraz 2009, Australia, a blend of 95% Shiraz and 5% Viognier, which was explained to be a unique approach to blending. A strong full bodied varietal which complimented the marbling on the steak.

 
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Bull & Bear Frittes served with house-made ketchup and garlic aioli

 
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Weingut Angerhof-Tschida Samling Trockenbeerenauslese, 2002, Austria

This was a sweet wine served with the dessert courses. The wine itself could have been dessert, but it was a nice compliment to sip on with each dessert.

 
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Crème Brûlée Flambée

Vanilla bean crème brûlée flambée (on fire) with dark chocolate crème. The caramelized sugar on top of the crème brûlée had a crispy layer to break through and gave a nice textural crunch.

 
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The Lemon, Bull & Bear’s signature dessert

Meyer lemon cooked for hours in a simple syrup reduction, filled with homemade lemon sorbet, lemon curd, and Chantilly cream. A bright and refreshing dessert.

 
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Chocolate Cigar made completely of chocolate.

 
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The Napoleon – a puff pastry with black walnut pastry cream, black walnuts soaked in 12-year-old aged Zaya Rum from Trinidad, dried merengue and dried raspberries.

 
The Global Venture Wine Pairing Dinner at Bull & Bear was another outstanding food and wine experience. Each dish was an enjoyable treat and the wines paired gave a nice complimenting or contrasting pairing. If you’re looking to experience something new during the food & wine festival season, this is a great option. The 3-course tasting menu with wine pairings is $110 per person. Seating is limited and reservations are required by calling 407-597-5413.

Bull & Bear
14200 Bonnet Creek Resort Ln
Orlando, FL 32821

 
Food & Wine Weekends at Waldorf Astoria Orlando

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The Peacock Egg with Bombay Saphire Gin & Lavender lemonade in Ice Egg at Peacock Alley.

This is the signature drink at Waldorf Astoria Orlando and available at at Peacock Alley, right outside of Bull & Bear. The presentation really glows at night and attracts lots of attention (just like a Peacock). It is very easy to drink and you forget there is gin mixed with the Lavender lemonade. The Ice Egg it’s served in is very unique and keeps the cocktail cold and allows enough time to drink, before it melts.

 
Food & Wine Weekends is an experience throughout the Waldorf Astoria and Hilton Bonnet Creek resorts. More information below on several dinners and other experience. See complete details on website: www.waldorfastoriaorlando.com/food-and-wine-weekends

Global Venture – a Wine Pairing Dinner
Friday and Saturday, 7:30pm, Bull & Bear
Experience an exclusive 3-course tasting menu comprised of exquisite food and wine pairings from around the world – prepared by the illustrious chefs of Waldorf Astoria Orlando. $110 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Reservations are required by calling 407-597-5413

ll Cibo Della Vita
Friday & Saturday, 5pm – 11pm, La Luce by Donna Scala at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
From the kitchen of La Luce by Donna Scala at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek, each weekend a tasting menu and wine pairing will be featured. Pricing Varies. Reservations 407-597-3600.

Bar du Chocolat and Champagne Tasting
Friday and Saturday, 6:30pm – 10:30pm, Peacock Alley
Decadent, yes. Sinful, perhaps. Most certainly an experience for those with a sweet tooth. Peacock Alley will be transformed into a chocolate-lover’s dream, offering a cocoa-infused evening of self-indulgence paired with a selection of fine champagnes. Guests can choose from a signature selection of chocolate treats from the Waldorf Astoria Orlando’s world-class pastry team. Pricing varies.

The Art of Sushi Pairing
Friday and Saturday, Zeta Bar & Sushi Lounge at Hilton Orlando Bonnet Creek
An exciting epicurean journey awaits as guests explore perfect pairings for our favorite sushi dishes including beer, sake and wine. Pricing varies.

Royal Tea – A New Waldorf Astoria Tradition
Sundays, 3pm – 5pm, Peacock Alley
Treasure time together as you savor finely-prepared tea sandwiches and house-made pastries, while sipping premium hot tea and listening to live piano music. Add a glass of champagne for a “Grand Royal Tea.” From $30 per adult; $15 per child, plus tax and gratuity.

Astoria After Dark
Friday and Saturday, 6pm – 10pm, WA Kids Club
Adults are not the only ones to have fun. The WA Kids Club is offering a nightly children’s program including dinner and a non-stop roster of fun activities – providing parents some “adult time” in which to experience Food & Wine Weekend activities.

 
Words and photos by Julius Mayo Jr.
Content and photos © Droolius.com 2014

See my experience 2013 Food & Wine Weekends at Waldorf Astoria Orlando: A Taste of Waldorf Astoria

 
Disclaimer: I was invited the experience Food & Wine Weekends at Bonnet Creek. I was not compensated to write this post and all opinions are always my own.

 

 

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