321 Flavor Bites: BurgerRobs on the move, Epcot food & fun, plus summer menus, wine diners
If you love BurgerRobs smash burgers, you're going to really love this: The Titusville food truck-turned-restaurant recently expanded its hours to include dinner.
So now, you if you can't make one of the food truck stops, and Titusville is out of your lunchtime orbit, you can get your smash burger fix for dinner.
But wait, there's more! Shelby and Rob Buffaloe have outgrown the colorful, compact, counter-service restaurant they opened last year. Sometime this fall, they plan to relocate to a larger space downtown. Read all about it here. And if you want to stalk the BurgerRobs food truck, follow it here.
I love my job!
Last week, my colleague Rob Landers and I got to spend an afternoon at Epcot sampling some of the new offerings at this year's Epcot International Food & Wine Festival.
If you like it hot, we highly recommend the Unnecessarily Spicy, Yet Extremely Tasty Scotch Bonnet Pepper-Curry Wings. We don't, however, recommend washing those wings down with the Dill Pickle Shake. The two are best enjoyed separately.
Here's my story about some of the new dishes at this year's festival. And we also got Kevin Downing, chef of Epcot Festivals, to share his five must-try dishes.
You can also check out Rob's cool video here. Warning: It'll make you hungry.
Taking the helm at Hayes Meats
Hayes Meats and Gourmet Foods, a Brevard County institution for more than six decades, has new owners.
Gem and Connie Gurgan, who have owned the butcher shop, deli and catering establishment for 27 years, have sold the store to a young family with the hopes they will see Hayes to it's 100th birthday.
Here's what I learned about the new owners and what Gem and Connie have planned for the future.
Brunch, anyone?
Restaurant critic Lyn Dowling has long been a fan of Heidi's Jazz Club and Restaurant in Cocoa Beach. It's an elegant, upscale place for lunch, dinner or great music.
She was excited to discover Heidi's now has an excellent weekend brunch.
Check out her review here to find out what she thought about it.
Wing-a-ding-ding
Before we move on to some of the other food and fun on the Space Coast this week, I had to share this story compiled by my USA Today Network colleagues from across the state. If you're planning a day trip to round out your summer, here's where you can find the best wings in Florida.
Bourbon bash at Cafe Margaux
Bourbon lovers should prepare to be wowed during the five-course bourbon dinner hosted by Cocoa Village’s Café Margaux at 6:30 p.m., Thursday, Aug. 17.
The event features Milam & Greene bourbon.
Dinner begins with cream of pumpkin, chestnuts and sage soup and also includes a “flowery” salad of greens and gruyere with sage flowers, lavender, Angelica flowers, and mustard and thyme flowers. Additional courses feature grilled citrus-rubbed king salmon with fresh white nectarine-Serrano chile salsa, garlic and tarragon-crusted pheasant breast and dessert of Mele e Mandorle, or “apples and almonds,” almond cream topped with apples on a shortcrust pastry base.
Cost is $135 per guest. Reserve at 321-639-8343.
Summer menu at Pompano Grill
Pompano Grill, the stylish, intimate restaurant in Cocoa Beach, is celebrating summer with a three-course prix fixe menu for $40.
The Summer Nights Menu is available Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It changes weekly and includes a choice of appetizer and entrée, as well as a dessert. Follow Pompano on Facebook to see each week's offerings.
Pompano Grill is at 110 N. Brevard Ave., Cocoa Beach. Call 321-784-9005 or visit the restaurant's website to make reservations through Open Table.
Wine dinner at Ember & Oak
Ember & Oak, 712 E. New Haven Ave., downtown Melbourne, will host a dinner with Australian wine maker Tim Smith on Aug. 15. Tickets are $150 per person, including tax and gratuity.
The event begins at 6 p.m. with a welcome cocktail, followed by a seated dinner with a five-course tasting menu starting at 6:30 p.m. Dishes on the summer-focused menu, inspired by Australian ingredients, will be paired with Tim Smith Wines from the Barossa Valley region.
Featured dishes are Ceviche with king crab, salmon, coconut and mango, paired with Tim Smith Bugalugs White 2022; Shrimp On The Barbie, paired with Tim Smith Rosé 2022; Australian Lamb, paired with Tim Smith Bugalugs Grenache 2022; Entrecôte, Japanese A5 ribeye, paired with Tim Smith Bugalugs Shiraz 2022; and a Petit Fours Medley paired with Tim Smith Shiraz 2021.
Smith will talk with guests about the wines during the dinner.
Click here for more information or reservations, or call 321-722-6285.
Edgewood seniors donate to Children’s Hunger Project
On July 14, members of the Edgewood Jr./Sr. High School chapter of the Children's Hunger Project presented the countywide organization with a $2,100 donation.
The Children's Hunger Project provides meals for more than 3,900 Brevard elementary school children who might otherwise go hungry over weekends or school breaks. The Edgewood chapter's donation will feed 11 children for a year.
The Edgewood students plan to continue fundraising efforts as the school year begins.
“The Edgewood Junior/Senior High chapter of The Children’s Hunger Project wants to make a meaningful change to reduce food insecurity in Brevard County," said William Struble, a chapter leader. "Students can and do create change. From raising funds to participating in packing events, everyone’s assistance can make an impact to better our community.”
The Children’s Hunger Project is headquartered in Cocoa and provides meals for children throughout the county. To donate, visit thechildrenshungerproject.org.
Celebrating all that's tasty
August is here, and so are lots of fun food holidays to celebrate, according to nationaltoday.com. This week, we're looking forward to:
National Ice Cream Sandwich Day, Aug. 2
National IPA (India Pale Ale) Day, Aug. 3
National Watermelon Day, Aug. 3
Braham Pie Day, Aug. 4
International Beer Day, Aug. 4
National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day, Aug. 4
National White Wine Day, Aug. 4
Mead Day, Aug. 5
National Couscous Day, Aug. 5
National Jamaican Party Day, Aug. 5
National Mustard Day, Aug. 5
National Root Beer Float Day, Aug. 6
National Raspberries and Cream Day, Aug. 7
Afternoon Tea Week, Aug. 7
National Frozen Custard Day, Aug. 8
National Mochi Day, Aug. 8
Until next time, happy eating y'all.
If you have questions about any of our food content, feel free to reach out anytime via email at sleonard@floridatoday.com. Or connect with me on Facebook: @SuzyFlemingLeonard or on Instagram: @SuzyLeonard
FLORIDA TODAY food editor
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 321 Flavor Bites this week includes news from Epcot, BurgerRobs
