Holy Cannoli! Cake Boss Coming to Orlando

Carlo’s Bakery is following in our New Jersey to Florida footsteps this summer. 

Though the original remains in Hoboken, Carlo’s Bakery has already expanded to eleven other locations in New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Nevada and Pennsylvania. The twelfth and newest sweet spot will be located in southwest Orlando at The Florida Mall.

Carlo’s Bakery, which was made famous by TLC’s show “Cake Boss,” is one of 27 shops and eateries planned for a new Dining Pavilion debuting at The Florida Mall this summer. 

“Cake Boss” star and Carlo’s owner, Buddy Valastro and his family have attended grand openings in other locations, so it’s possible that he will make an appearance for the The Florida Mall location though it has not been announced at this time.

Bron: Our Florida project

Food court Florida mall

The 105,000 square-foot Dining Pavilion features unique dining options, additional retailers and an expanded seating area, creating a dining and shopping experience focused on comfort and convenience.

The new retailers and restaurants will open in phases throughout the summer. Boasting more than 1,400 indoor and outdoor seats, the Dining Pavilion has a contemporary feel, featuring bright floors and millwork, in addition to numerous amenities such as a large seating lounge featuring 85-inch TVs, LED lighting, expansive restrooms and two family rooms, new way-finding signage, enhanced Wi-Fi throughout the mall, and outlets with USB connectivity.
Guests will find a redesigned exterior entrance at the front of the space, which will better accommodate customer flow into The Florida Mall and the pavilion.

Located between American Girl and Dillard’s on the north side of the mall, the Dining Pavilion offers a total of 23 restaurants, five of which are new-to-market concepts, including
El Meson Sandwiches (a Puerto Rican fast food sandwich chain) ,
CARVERA Argentinian Grill,
Carlo’s Bakery,
a Madeleine
and Bubbleology.

The additional restaurants to join the Dining Pavilion include:
• Tobu

• Five Guys Burger and Fries (this location will have their new milkshakes!)

• Charley’s Philly Steaks

• Dumpling and Noodle Bar

• Chicken Now

• A&W All American Food

• Asian Chao, Sbarro

• Taco Bell

• Häagen-Dazs

• Spoleto Italian Kitchen (a Brazlian-based Italian chain) 

• Nature’s Table (wraps, smoothies and more) 

• FRESH – Healthy Café (fresh juices, paninis, salads and more)

• Jamba Juice

• Ugrean

• Subway

In addition to new dining options, the Dining Pavilion will also feature five new retailers, including Morana, SportsAction, Ron Jon Surf Shop, Yankee Candle, GNC and Delores Jewelers.
Beginning this summer, the current food court and adjacent mall concourse will be renovated and redeveloped to accommodate additional retailers.
This phase of the renovation will add a new entrance, upgraded flooring, a customer seating lounge and new LED lighting.

Bron: Attractions magazine

Disney Springs restaurants

It has been under construction since September 2014, and now Disney has officially announced that 'Jock Lindsey's Hangar Bar' will be opening in the fall of 2015 at The Landing in Disney Springs.

The Disney owned and operated bar will be located just between Paradiso 37 and The BOATHOUSE in what was formerly the Pleasure Island area of Downtown Disney.

The aviation themed bar and lounge will have seating for 150, including both indoor and outdoor space.

The drink menu will feature unique cocktails – such as the “Hovito Mojito” with Barsol Quebranta Pisco, fresh lime juice and simple syrup. Although not strictly a restaurant, there will be small plates on offer, including “Air Pirates Everything Pretzels” with house-made mustard and beer cheese fondue, and “Rolling Boulder Meatballs.”

Wondering who Jock Lindsey is? Fans of the Indiana Jones movies will recognize him as Indy's pilot. Jock is also the owner of a pet snake named Reggie, which just happens to be the name of the steamboat that is in dry dock at the side of the bar - which also serves as part of the outdoor seating area.

Disney has just announced thirteen new tenants for the upcoming Disney Springs redevelopment of Downtown Disney, bringing more shopping and dining experiences to the Walt Disney World property.

Eight of the announced tenants are retail, with five dining locations rounding out what has been the biggest single announcement of new tenants since the Disney Springs project was unveiled.

 

When complete in 2016, Disney Springs will double the number of dining and retail locations of Downtown Disney, and expanding the the facilities to more than 1million sq ft.

Edison:

Inspired by The Edison venue in Los Angeles, this lavish “Industrial Gothic” -style restaurant, bar and nighttime destination is themed to a 1920s-period power plant, recalling an exuberant era of invention and imagination. It will feature exceptionally good classic American food, craft cocktails and live entertainment including cabaret and music.

Sprinkles:

The world’s first cupcake bakery, as named by Food Network and others, serves up handcrafted cupcakes, slow churned ice cream and homemade cookies. Their innovative Cupcake ATM satisfies sweet-toothed epicureans 24/7.

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza: Blaze

Fast-Fire’d Pizza is a modern day “pizza joint” known for its custom-built artisanal pizzas, freshly made salads, blood orange lemonade and s’more pies. The fast-casual restaurant features an interactive assembly-line format that allows guests to customize their pizza, choosing from over 40 fresh, artisanal toppings – all for one price. The generously sized, 11-inch pizzas are “fast-fired” in a blazing hot open-flame oven and ready to enjoy in just 180 seconds.

Vivoli Gelateria:

Vivoli Gelateria serves expertly crafted gelato made with fresh, seasonal ingredients, panini sandwiches and espresso drinks.

Tea Traders Café by Joffrey’s:

Tea Traders Café by Joffrey’s specializes in premium loose-leaf teas (hot, iced, blended) featuring customs blends, accessories and packaged teas from all over the globe; created to go or for a tea experience in the café.

Bron: wdwmagic

Earls kitchen komt naar The Mall at Millenia

In Canada zijn wij al diverse keren bij deze keten wezen eten en zijn dan ook erg blij dat er in Orlando ook een filiaal geopend gaat worden. 

Website Earls kitchen and bar

Canadian "upscale casual" restaurant Earls Kitchen + Bar will replace Blue Martini at Mall at Millenia in early 2016.

Earls serves a combination of American and international fusion food, with items such as burgers starting at about $18. All dishes, according to a release from the restaurant, are made fresh with ingredients from scratch.

"The addition of Earls is another example of what makes The Mall at Millenia a unique destination," said Millenia manager Steve Jamieson in a statement.

Blue Martini owners said it is moving to The Pointe Orlando at 9101 S. International Drive. The restaurant and lounge is expected to reopen at the new location sometime this spring.

Earls joins several other new tenants at Mall of Millenia including men's and women's apparel retailer Robin's Jean, which recently opened along with Foot Locker women's spin-off, SIX:02. The mall is also adding Lilly Pulitzer and Under Armour stores this spring.

Bron Orlando Sentinel

CHEDDAR'S GEOPEND IN KISSIMMEE

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen opened  its fourth Central Florida restaurant on April 16, at 875 Osceola Parkway in Kissimmee, in the Osceola Crossings Shopping Center.

The menu offers a variety of selections including steaks seasoned with a special blend of herbs, ribs slow-smoked for four hours in-house, hand-cut seafood, crisp salads, generous pastas, classic burgers, chicken and more.

The lighter side menu features entrees with fewer than 575 calories, while the kids menu includes classic favorites like hand-breaded chicken tenders and penne pasta with homemade marinara sauce.

The 8,000-square-foot restaurant seats up to 200 guests and will be open 11 a.m.-11:00 p.m. Sunday-Thursday and 11:00 a.m.-midnight Friday-Saturday.

Cheddar’s was founded in 1979 as a neighborhood restaurant featuring handmade, quality food offered at a reasonable price. Cheddar’s has grown to more than 160 company-owned and franchise locations in 29 states as of March 2015.

Website: Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen

I-Drive 360 opent in mei 2015

Het nieuwe I-Drive 360 uitgaans complex wordt binnenkort geopend. Inmiddels zijn er al wat bars, winkeltjes en restaurants open.
Het reuzenrad The Orlando Eye, het Sealife aquarium en het wassenbeeldenmuseum Madame Tussauds openen op 4 mei en het natuurkundig museum Skeletons al op 1 mei.
Er komt een food court en diverse restaurants zijn al open zoals Outback, Carrabas en Yard House.
Ook is er een Tin Roof restaurant geopend en een Ben en Jerry's.

Orlando theme park news

4 Great Date Night Ideas in Orlando

From character meet-and-greets to zany dinner shows, there truly is no end to the options for family-friendly dining in Orlando. But for those looking for a quiet, kid-free night, the choices are surprisingly plentiful, too.

Fireworks Vistas

Watch Disney's fireworks off-site, enjoying them without the crowds. (©Walt Disney World)

The sky lights up with a kaleidoscope of color each night as fireworks burst over Epcot and Magic Kingdom. Forgo the crowds and instead snag a table at one of a handful of restaurants known for their birds-eye vistas of the evening’s pyrotechnics. That list includes California Grill where diners can watch the show and listen to the soundtrack for the Wishes fireworks display either at their table or on the outdoor observation deck. Guests of the new Four Seasons Orlando restaurant, Capa, also enjoy stellar views on this Spanish steakhouse’s sprawling outdoor terraces. And while Reunion Resort's Elevenrestaurant isn’t located on Disney property, the views of Epcot’s nightly IllumiNations show are still crystal clear from the restaurant’s rooftop deck. 

Cozy Tables

Enjoy a romantic dinner at Bull and Bear. (©Bull and Bear)

With secluded alcoves and cozy booths, a date-night-worthy restaurant has the ability to make a couple feel as though they’re on their own secluded island. That’s exactly the feeling diners get at Christner's Prime Steak & Lobster where a slew of private dining rooms, available at no extra charge, create a clandestine vibe within this celebrated classy steakhouse. Bull and Bear supplies a similar milieu in its dark and sultry dining room at the Waldorf Astoria Orlando, where couples can snuggle into comfy side booths and share either the Chateaubriand or Tomahawk for two.

Interactive Bites

Try Napa's monthly wine dinner for a taste of the world's best wine regions. (©Napa at the Hyatt)

Those couples keen on getting in on the action can check out a few Orlando hotpots with an interactive element, including Farris and Fosters Chocolate Factory, a Baldwin Park gem offering couples the chance to take over the operations to make a pound of chocolate while sipping their BYO wine. At the Hyatt Regency Orlando, a series of monthly wine dinners hosted at either Napa or Fiorenzo allow attendees to take a travel-free culinary journey through the world’s best wine regions with wine experts and Hyatt chefs as their guides. Finally, escape to Italy via the Harbor Nights events hosted regularly at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel at Universal Orlando, where the Harbor Piazza transforms into a strolling culinary extravaganza complete with limitless gourmet bites and wine samplings at stations dotting the al fresco space.

Front Row Seats

Visit Luma on Park for at least seven courses of delicious dishes. (©Luma on Park)

Delight in being at the mercy of the chef’s whimsy during one of a select few chef’s table experiences available in Orlando. In Winter Park, Brandon McGlamery gives guests a front-row seat to the action in his kitchen at Luma on Park, where his team whips up a series of seven to nine artful courses. Just down the street at The Alfond Inn, Chef Marc Kusche unfurls five courses paired with wine for diners perched in front of his open kitchen at Hamilton’s Kitchen. And finally, it’s impossible to overlook Victoria and Albert's, home to Orlando’s most coveted chef’s table. With up to 10 personalized course served kitchen-side, this three-hour culinary adventure books out months ahead of time so advance reservations are a must.  

Bron: Where traveler