French-Kissed Dining
Bites & Bubbles achieves its vision as a throwback to the 1960s neighborhood bistro. In 2018, Bites & Bubbles opened in Mills50 in the building previously occupied by the short-lived Brooklyn Coffee Shop. The restaurant, which bills itself as an “American restaurant with a French kiss,” is the creation of Eddie Nickell and Nicholas Olivieri. On the eatery’s website,... Read More
Pure Gold: Golden Forks 2020
From old favorites to newer spots that have made a lasting impression, we present our annual Golden Fork awards for the best restaurants in Greater Orlando. The dining scene in Orlando has seen the opening of a bevy of new restaurants over the past year, many of which have been met with acclaim. To that end, we made a concerted effort this year to welcome some of these newcomers... Read More
Playing to the Crowd
Kabooki Sushi earns every bit of its reputation with well-executed dishes that showcase culinary creativity. The high-end, highly touted Kabooki Sushi now sits at two convenient corners of Central Florida. About six years ago at age 22, Chef Henry Moso opened Kabooki’s first location in a plaza off of East Colonial Drive and, then, in May of last year, the restaurant expanded... Read More
Orlando Family Magazine: Year in Review 2019
A look back at our best interviews from 2019, along with a recap of all our top lists, from physicians, attorneys and dentists to Best of the Best and much more. THEY SAID IT! Memorable quotes from our best interviews in 2019. “As an actress you’re always expected to look perfect, wear the latest design, and always look your best. Sometimes you want to wear a T-shirt and... Read More
Foresight is 2020
The upcoming year will bring more growing pains for metro Orlando as the area continues to add residents at a dizzying pace. Now that another year has come to a close, it’s time to look forward at what’s on the horizon. So, to learn more about what the future will bring, Orlando Family Magazine spoke with local leaders about what 2020 will hold for Greater Orlando. The biggest... Read More
French Connection
With delectable dishes served in an intimate setting, Le Coq Au Vin gives guests a lot to savor. Although the building that houses Le Coq Au Vin looks more like a cottage than a restaurant, my friend and I knew we were in the right place when we arrived on a recent Saturday evening because we saw the restaurant’s “Bon Appétit Y’all” sign outside. Having driven past that... Read More
Feeling Festive: Holiday Event Guide
Celebrate the season with these holiday happenings taking place across Central Florida. December 1-31 St. Augustine’s Night of Lights Now in its 26th year, this annual holiday lights display brings over three million lights to the historic downtown district. Historic Downtown St. Augustine, begins at sunset, free, St. Augustine, VisitStAugustine.com, (904) 824-4997 December 1 Handel’s... Read More
Big Catch
Dive into a sea of flavors and options at Paddlefish in Disney Springs, where quality food meets an elegant ambience. Paddlefish, formerly Fulton’s Crab House, opened in 2017 as a faux yacht, luxurious seafood restaurant docked at Disney Springs. Although this stand-alone restaurant has been around for only a few years, its operator, Levy Restaurants, is no stranger to fine dining... Read More
The Best of The Brunch
If you’re like us, you love a good brunch. There’s just something about being able to toe the line between late morning and early afternoon, no matter whether you’re partial to breakfast, lunch or somewhere in between. And while the over-the-top, all-you-can-eat buffets are great on occasion, we find ourselves more excited by the tantalizing options that can be found on area... Read More
Style and Substance
The chef-driven Market to Table doesn’t forsake flavor in its search for beauty. Market to Table opened in the Roper Garden Building in Historic Downtown Winter Garden in 2016 but its roots had already begun to grow in the area several years prior at the district’s popular Saturday farmers market, where chef/owner Ryan Freelove would sell soups, salad dressings, butters and... Read More
In Vino Veritas
A look at Central Florida’s winemakers and producers. Central Florida may not be a revered wine region, but that doesn’t mean that our local winemakers aren’t bringing anything to the glass. In fact, it may be because the Sunshine State is not known for its vino that wine producers here get to have a little more fun including using nontraditional fruit (blueberries!) and repping... Read More
A True Neighbor
Cozy and eclectic, Maxine’s on Shine is the neighbor you wish lived next door. If you’ve never been to Maxine’s on Shine, you might find yourself a little confused when your GPS sends you to a block of residential homes in the Colonialtown area. But don’t turn around, you’re not lost—this eatery, set between two inconspicuous homes, is just a part of the neighborhood. Opened... Read More
The State of the Arts
Your preview of the many cultural offerings coming to Greater Orlando this fall. Autumn is one of the best times to experience live music, a local theater production or a new art exhibit. So, to help you take advantage of all the cultural happenings Orlando has to offer, we put together a selection of some of the shows you won’t want to miss this fall. PERFORMING ARTS Central... Read More
Scares in Store
The man responsible for Orlando’s biggest Halloween event gives us a peek behind the blood-spattered curtain. Each year around October, Universal Orlando transforms into something sinister and decidedly frightful, complete with horrifying haunted houses and ghoulish scare actors popping up when you least expect it. But it’s all in the spirit of scary-fun for the park’s Halloween... Read More
An Evening in Spain
Tapa Toro offers a culinary journey of Spanish Flavors and culture in the heart of Central Florida. Tapa Toro is conveniently located at ICON Park off International Drive. Opened in 2015, the restaurant is known for its traditional Spanish cuisine that is set alongside nightly flamenco dancing. Having traveled to Spain many times to visit relatives who call this beautiful country... Read More
A Ray of Hope
At just 8 years old, Lucy Dicocco is already making a huge impact with her initiative to help Orlando’s homeless population. Lucy DiCocco, like most 8-year-olds, is constantly on the lookout for candy or other sweet treats. What makes her different from other third-graders, however, is that the chocolate bars or brownies she finds are not for herself. They are actually for a group... Read More
Settling In
With Italian-inspired dishes and a relaxed atmosphere, Sette is making itself at home here in Orlando. Sette (pronounced Se-TAY) opened in Ivanhoe Village in March, taking over the space that formerly housed Stir and before that Nova; the former lasted for seven months while the latter stuck it out for about a year and a half. Suffice it to say, restaurants have not had much staying... Read More
Moving Forward
When it comes to getting around in Central Florida, commuting by car is the option most residents choose. And maybe that’s not surprising considering Orlando was always designed for car travel between the far-flung suburbs, the strip malls and the giant parking lots. But while the city’s past may be about cars and highways, the future, according to transit advocates and experts,... Read More
Green Cuisine
Leading the way in upscale plant-based cuisine, Proper & Wild offers diners healthy, satisfying plates. If there were ever a right time to open an upscale plant-based restaurant serving healthy eats in Orlando, it’s certainly now. With “wellness” becoming the most commodified buzzword on the planet and more chefs and restaurants embracing entrées that give veggies a starring... Read More
Best of the Best 2019
Each year, we like to take inventory of some of Orlando’s BESTS. From the best food to the best shops to the best places for pampering yourself to the best activities for family fun. After a number of years of packing our Best of the Best list with all this goodness, you’d think we’d have run out of recommendations by now? But as always, compiling this feature reminds us that... Read More
Coveted Communities: Top Towns 2019
A look at Central Florida’s best towns and neighborhoods. Living in Central Florida is a blessing in itself in that there are so many communities here that provide everything a resident could be looking for: top-performing schools, walkability, beautiful parks—the list could go on and on. With that in mind, we decided to take a look around the ’hood to see how some of the... Read More
