Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month: Fine Dining for a Cause

Many would associate the month of September with going back to school, the start of the fall season, and football.  Those living in the Orlando area have also come to refer to September as Magical Dining Month.  For the 8th year running, several fine dining restaurants in Orlando will participate in this month-long event by offering a three-course prix fixe dinner at $33 with $1 from each meal benefiting the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida.  Magical Dining provides Orlando area residents an opportunity to experience the ultimate culinary experience while also supporting a worthy cause.  Visit Orlando extended us an invitation to preview Magical Dining Month with a meal at Napa at The Peabody Orlando.

Adjacent to the Orange County Convention Center on International Drive, The Peabody Orlando contains 1600+ rooms, multiple pools, spa treatments, and three main dining establishments.  Napa represents The Peabody Orlando’s signature dining experience with its Northern California inspired cuisine consisting of several “farm-to-fork” menu items.  Napa prides itself in offering these organic offerings that originate from several local farms ensuring the ultimate in freshness.

Napa’s Magical Dining experience begins with your choice of one of two appetizers.  The first choice consists of Bibb Lettuce with toasted coconut, candied hazelnuts, and a roasted spiced pineapple vinaigrette.  The candied hazelnuts burst in sweet flavor providing a unique culinary experience.  The same can also be said for the second appetizer option of Fall Squash Bisque with toasted sage marshmallow.  Ordering this second option brings you a marshmallow centered inside an otherwise empty bowl. The bisque is then served at the table over the marshmallow which then slowly melts providing a sweet beginning to your dining experience. Check out this video to see for yourself!

The entrees, of course, provide the centerpiece to any meal and Napa certainly does not disappoint here.  Three mouth-watering selections will more than appease varying taste buds.  If you’re looking for a meaty entree then you will want to consider the Grilled Beef Filet.   Cooked to order, the tender filet is perfectly complemented by a risotto that has hints of smoked bacon with a huckleberry demiglace.  Keeping true to its Californian roots, Napa also offers Cioppino.  This signature Italian dish of San Francisco consists of mussels, calamari, lump crab, rock shrimp, mahi mahi, fennel, leeks, spicy tomato broth, and paprika rouille.  The third selection will win the praise of vegetarians (and perhaps convert others) as it features Forest Mushroom & Roasted Shallot Lasagne.  Served with a spicy tarragon tomato sauce and fresh mozzarella, this no-meat Lasagne still provides a hearty portion leaving one extremely satisfied.

The three-course meal concludes with one of two dessert offerings.  Chocolate lovers will lean toward the Nutty Brownie consisting of dark chocolate mousse cake, cocoa nib tuille, and Bailey’s Anglaise.  For a lighter but still fulfilling ending, you may want to consider Warm Apple Crumb Cake accompanied by candied walnuts and vanilla ice cream.

Available at an additional cost are a wide variety of wine offerings.  Also not included in your meal cost, but a worthy addition nonetheless, is a visit to nearby Rocks, a beautiful cocktail lounge overlooking one of the pools at The Peabody Orlando.  Rocks offers several mixed drinks set against a laid-back lounge that features live singing creating a beautifully understated ambiance.  One wonderful amenity that is indeed included in your price is the validation of your valet ticket.

The Peabody Orlando also features another Magical Dining option in Capriccio Grill, a restaurant offering Italian pasta dishes as well as numerous steak offerings.  Guests can also extend their Magical Dining experience by making it a Magical Night.  For $159 you and a very special guest can spend the night at this luxurious hotel and savor the wonderful tastes available at Napa or at Capriccio Grill.  Bring the kids along during the day so that they can experience The March of the Peabody Orlando Ducks showcasing The Peabody Orlando’s iconic ducks making their way through the hotel’s atrium lobby.

However you decide to tailor your Magical Dining experience, you are certain to walk away with a night to remember.  Many restaurants will participate in this event providing a portion of the proceeds to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Florida.  However, Napa at The Peabody Orlando combines style, elegance, class, and some of the finest dining available in the Central Florida area.

Disclosure: We were provided a complimentary dinner to experience Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining Month and facilitate this post. All thoughts and opinions are our own.

All photos © Ricardo Escobar for modernmami™