Erika Spence: Business in the Park

The business of food

Winter Park’s food culture continues to gain recognition, both for the quality and variety of restaurants, cafes, bars and markets in the area. Last week, the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce hosted its 31st annual Taste of Winter Park presented by CenturyLink, also known as Winter Park’s ultimate foodie festival. Each year more than 1,300 attendees join in an evening of community built around a common love for food and supporting local businesses.

This year we hosted more than 40 restaurants, caterers, bakers and beverage purveyors. Ten of those were either new to Winter Park or the event in general, including: Antonella’s Pizzeria, Boi Brazil Churrascaria, Café Noir, Create Your Nature, Daya Restaurant, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Sam’s Club, Smoothie King, Square 1 Burgers & Bar, and Zona Fresca Fresh Mexican Grill.

A select panel of judges, including the Winter Park-Maitland Observer’s own Josh Garrick, helped determine our prizes. Join us in a round of applause for 4 Rivers Smokehouse, whose smoked pulled pork taco won Best Main Course. Best Appetizer/Side Dish was presented to Umi for its Bluefin toro tartar. Sweet! by Holly earned the Best Dessert award for its assorted flavors of mini cupcakes. The Best Booth Display went to Orchid Thai Cuisine. The Best Healthy Dish was presented to Create Your Nature, which is slated to open early summer along Orange Avenue in the State Auto Building, for its acai bowl. Hamilton’s Kitchen at The Alfond Inn’s smoked pork rib was named the Best Fresh Florida Dish for its use of locally-sourced ingredients. Finally, Rogue Pub took home the award for best beverage with its selection of Goose Island Ales.

I promise it wasn’t all about the food. Johnny Mag Sax performed throughout the evening, one lucky attendee won a trip to Ireland courtesy of Go Travel, Trafalgar and Brenden Vacations, and several others won silent auction prizes to ‘taste’ some of the best of Winter Park’s sports, arts and entertainment. We hope you’ll join us in 2017 at the Winter Park Farmers Market. Until then, keep up with Taste of Winter Park on social media @WinterParkTaste.

The art of networking

In mid-February the Chamber launched its new quarterly networking series as a free opportunity for our members to connect and foster strong business relationships. The next networking event will be held on Wednesday, May 4, at The Albin Polasek Museum & Sculpture Gardens and Showalter-Capen House from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Held during National Small Business Week, the garden party event will feature drinks, light bites and a beautiful setting to encourage members to mix and mingle. An RSVP is required in advance at winterpark.org.

Erika Spence is the senior director of marketing and communications at the Winter Park Chamber of Commerce.