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This has really turned in to a big event.
It’s Appetite for the Arches, a fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida, and it will be Saturday, March 2, at Rosen Shingle Creek, from 7 to 10 p.m.
This is a walkabout food and beverage event like many others, with food stations featuring some of the area’s top chef talent set up around a ballroom, each paired with a wine or cocktail vendor.
But this one has a big twist: All of the chefs have been challenged to create dishes using one or more ingredients found on the menu at McDonald’s. But remember, we’re talking about some really creative culinary talent, so expect something more than McNuggets a la king.
For example, past creations have included Charmoula Chicken, an appetizer fashioned out of chicken breasts, hash browns and pickled red onions from Kathleen Blake of the Rusty Spoon. Or Chipotle BBQ Beef Enchiladas using steak, tortillas, iceberg lettuce, onions, cheese and barbecue sauce, a past entry from chef Kevin Fonzo.
This year’s participating restaurants include:
Cuisiniers Catered Cuisine and Events
Morimoto Asia
The Rusty Spoon
Dovecote
LUMA on Park
Rosen Shingle Creek
The Ravenous Pig
The Kevin Fonzo Foundation
4Rivers Smokehouse
Talk of the Town Restaurants
Pizza Bruno
Tutto Italia
Millenia Catering
DOMU
The Table DeLand
The Polite Pig
The first Appetite for the Arches, spearheaded by James & Julie Petrakis of the Pigs, both Polite and Ravenous, was in 2014. There were events in ’15 and ’16 but it went on hiatus for the past two years while RMHC focused on building its third Ronald McDonald House in the area.
As I hope you know, Ronald McDonald Houses provide a home, services and comfort for the families of children receiving treatment in local hospitals and medical facilities. It’s a truly wonderful program. And the fact that a third facility was recently built should tell you that your contributions are being well put to use.
Tickets to Appetite for the Arches are $200 per person. For $250 you can get into the event an hour earlier. On the day of the event, general admission tickets are $275, but I expect it will be sold out before then. Tickets may be purchased at this link.
WFTV Channel 9’s Greg Warmoth and News 96.5’s Joe Kelley will serve as the evening’s hosts. And if you’re concerned about having too much fun, Rosen Shingle Creek is offering rooms for the night at $159, but you must book by Feb. 1. Call 866-996-6338 or book at this link.
