Cocoa Beach Uncorked, An Astromical Food and Wine Festival June 3-4

Cocoa Beach is known for many things.  From the great surfing to the proximity to NASA, the beach side gem is popular with tourists near and far.  This June 3-4, Cocoa Beach will be a home to foodies during the first annual Cocoa Beach Uncorked.

Held on Florida’s Space Coast, the first annual Cocoa Beach Uncorked will highlight local food, delicious wines and spectacular beer. The featured local chefs, restaurants and breweries are some of the best in the area.  Held directly on the beach, guests can sip and savor the culinary delights while enjoying the ocean views.

While this event is the first one for Cocoa Beach, the event is the sister event of Clearwater Beach Uncorked.  The success and popularity of that food and wine festival encouraged the producers to expand the event to Florida’s Atlantic Coast.

“Cocoa Beach is the perfect location to launch our new taste-fest and showcase the finest food, wine, craft brews and other fabulous culinary treasures of Florida’s east coast,” said Tammy Gail, event producer. “We’re bringing together people with a shared interest for what will be an unforgettable weekend for attendees, partners and exhibitors alike. I fully expect Uncorked Cocoa Beach to be a sellout."

 

 

 

Tickets for Cocoa Beach Uncorked are on sale now.  Tickets are $55 for general admission or $75 for VIP.  VIP tickets include 1 hour early admission and extra seating in the VIP Chalet, where they can enjoy  Moët & Chandon. Tickets can be purchased at www.cocoabeachuncorked.com.

The Cocoa Beach Uncorked event will also include cooking demos, interactive experiences and competitions. 

It's time to sip and savor in the sand.  Get your tickets to Cocoa Beach Uncorked today.

Join Prairie Grass Cafe and #SheddTheStraw for Earth Day

Think about your last lunch or dinner at a restaurant.  Did you use a plastic straw in your cup? I would be willing to bet that the majority of us had a plastic straw in our drinks. 

According to studies, Americans use approximately 500 million plastic straws every day.  Did you know that a single use plastic straw never disappear - that means that they don't disintegrate, degrade or go away.  Those convenient plastic straws end of harming many animals in the waters, lakes, and seas.

Prairie Grass Café has long supported environmental causes, local farmers and many important causes.  Starting on Earth Day, April 22, Prairie Grass Café is joining the #SheddTheStraw campaign.  Shedd Aquarium is encouraging everyone to pitch the plastic straws for biodegradable alterative.

Beginning on Earth Day, Saturday, April 22, Prairie Grass Cafe will no longer offer straws to customers unless the customer requests a straw-straws will be paper and/or biodegradable.

Blood Orange Citrus-hattan, awaken the taste buds

A scrumptious dinner is a lovely way to spend an evening with family and friends. Before the dinner starts, the conversation can be lightened with a pre-dinner cocktail. An apperitivo that awakens the tastes buds and compliments the dinner to be served can set the mood for the whole evening. Carpano Antica Formula, a flavorful vermouth, enhances a bright blood orange citrus-hattan served as an apperitivo to a Spring barbecue. 

The Carpano Antica Formula is an Italian vermouth that is highly regarded. Made from white wine, Piedmont’s muscatel and rich wines from southern Italy, the vermouth offers herbaceous qualities with notes of spice and dried fruit. 

This apperitivo is delightful as an ingredient in a craft cocktail. Adding the Carpano Antica Formula to a Manhattan inspired cocktail awakens the palate for a delicious dinner. Served prior to our spring barbeque meal, the Blood Orange Citrus-hattan balanced the brightness of orange notes with the smokey qualities of the pork loin dinner. 

Blood Orange Citrus-hattan

Ingredients

·         1 ½ parts Bullet Bourbon

·         1 part Carpano Antica Formula

·         1 part blood orange freshly squeezed juice

·         1 part seltzer

·         Blood orange peel for garnish

·         Blood orange slices frozen into ice cubes (optional)

Instructions                                                                               

Combine bourbon, Carpano Antica Formula, and blood orange juice. Pour into a rocks glass. Add a large ice cube or a couple of ice cubes containing frozen blood orange slices. Top with a splash of seltzer water. Garnish with a blood orange peel. 

Served as a pre-dinner cocktail, the Blood Orange Citrus-hattan has bright notes to open the senses to the spring themed dinner. The main course for dinner was a smoked black pepper and garlic rubbed pork, paired with roasted carrots and a parsnip puree. Smokey under notes with the spice from the pepper are offset by the sweetness of the parsnips and carrots. The result is a lovely balanced meal. 

When serving a lovely dinner, consider a palate awakening apperitivo prior to the meal. Carpano Antica Formula can be a delightful ingredient to any cocktail. What will you mix up?

Dophin Days debuts at SeaWorld Orlando

For those of us lucky to live on the Space Coast, dolphin watching is a fun activity.  These animals are playful, curious and amazing to watch.  Now, everyone can see Dolphins at play in the new SeaWorld Orlando show Dolphin Days. 

Replacing the popular Blue Horizons show, Dolphin Days debuted on April 1.  The show features the personalities of each Atlantic bottlenose dolphins.  With tropical birds soaring above, guests will see how the dolphins interact with each other and their trainers.

Since children learn well through personal interaction, one lucky volunteer will be able to join in with the experience.  Selected from the audience, one young volunteer will learn from "training team in an up-close encounter with one of the dolphins and a green-winged macaw."  This personal experience exemplifies SeaWorld's commitment to creating experiences that matter.

 Additionally, SeaWorld Orlando will open a Dolphin Nursery.  Opening this summer, the area will offer an  "interactive educational experience for guests to see dolphins up close.

SeaWorld also offers world class thrill rides.  From Orlando's tallest roller coaster, Mako, to a new virtual reality experience on Kraken, guests will get the adrenaline rush that they crave.

Florida residents can get a special on annual passes.  Through May 14, Florida residents will get free Aquatic admission with purchase of an annual pass.