Tapas, Feast in the East, South African dinner.
Back in November, Joseph McFadden, executive chef at Euphoria Fish House at Margaritaville Resort Orlando, travelled to Spain to represent the United States at the World Tapas Competition hosted by the city of Valladolid. NBC did not cover the event.
Other countries participating were: Mexico, Ecuador, Spain, Ukraine, Portugal, Canada, Japan, Panama, France, Chile, Denmark, Ireland, Argentina, United Arab Emirates, and India. The winner, chosen by members of the World Association of Chefs Societies, which actually chooses to go by the acronym WACS, was Pascal Etcheverria, of Restaurant Le Carré in the lovely town of Bayonne, France. Etcheverria’s tapa was Mejilla de res, zanahorias, paté de pato y maracuyá (beef tips, carrots, duck paté and passion fruit).
McFadden’s entry was a duck three-way [pause for snickering] featuring a crispy duck skin cone filled with duck liver and cognac parfait, smoked duck breast and Peking sauce, garnished with cucumber and white scallion.
That tapa, shown at topa, will be served at Euphoria Fish House on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 18 and 19. I recommend you go out and try it and then book a flight to Bayonne, go to Restaurant Le Carré, which I’m guessing is filled with spies, and try Etcheverria’s winning tapa and make your own WACS-free decision.
On March 24 the East Orlando Chamber of Commerce (EOCC) will host Feast in the East (FITE), a walkabout food and beverage event featuring EOCC catering and restaurant members, none of whom seem to be mentioned on the organization’s web page. But I can tell you that FITE will be held at the Avalon Park Community Center, 13401 Tanja King Blvd., Orlando, from 4:30 to 9 p.m. and tickets are $35. You can purchase them here.
Competing for your attention that same evening is the February edition of FusionFest’s Diversitastic! Dining Experience (FFD!DE). The dinner will focus on the food and culture of South Africa and will be held at Serengeti Restaurant in the Bronze Kingdom Museum on International Drive. The restaurant’s chef, J. Chefé will offer a four-course dinner accompanied by music, dancing and other cultural entertainments. Tickets are $49.95 and must be purchased in advance.