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Florida’s Food Secret Revealed at Florida Film Festival

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BRINGING IT HOME:
FLORIDA’S CULINARY SECRETS REVEALED
AT 2011 FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL
The State’s Historic, Enlightening, and Inspiring Culinary Contributions Celebrated with Award-Winning Food Talent

ORLANDO, FL. (Nov. 11, 2010) – There’s a food trend bubbling, which is rooted in humble beginnings, stems from a mélange of diverse cultures, and blossoms with epicurean delight. The 20th annual Florida Film Festival, sponsored by Full Sail University, will celebrate the inspiring and authentic regional tastes of Florida cuisine with a stellar lineup of casual brunches, elegant dinners, food and film pairings, and parties.  The Festival will take place April 8 through 17, 2011.

Over ten days, this Florida flavor exploration will feature contemporary cuisine while delving deep into the state’s rich history.  Traditions unique to each region—from the Keys to the Panhandle, the Suwannee to the St. Johns Rivers, and everywhere in between—all will be honored as attendees savor each stop along the journey. 

“What is Swamp Cabbage?  Do frog legs taste better fried or sautéed? Does gator tail taste like chicken? All of these questions will be answered with our taste buds at this year’s event,” said Florida Film Festival President Henry Maldonado. “Attendees will be introduced to the Florida foodways and experience a sense of history, warmth, and authenticity as they dine next to alligators and take airboat rides after brunch!”

A handpicked lineup of visiting food experts and acclaimed chefs include Florida historian Gary Mormino, and award-winning Chef Norman Van Aken. Other renowned chefs joining this year’s festival are noted in the following events:

Friday, April 8:

Opening Night Film and Party: Fresh Squeezed Florida
FILM ONLY, $20 / PARTY ONLY, $85 / FILM AND PARTY, $100
Regal Winter Park Village 20, Enzian, and Eden Bar
Friday, April 8, 2011. 6:30 p.m.
A Florida food fantasy! Hand-picked local culinary heroes will serve their most creative, one-of-a-kind, mouth-watering dishes inspired by the state we call home.  This bustling kick-off party will include entertainment, food and drink, and other goodies throughout the night.  The Sunshine State’s utterly unique twist on the culinary arts never tasted so good!

Participating restaurants include Enzian/Eden Bar, Luma on Park, The Ravenous Pig, 4R Smokehouse, K Restaurant Wine Bar, and Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress!

Saturday, April 9:

Swamp Cabbage Culture, Sweet Tea, and Pie: Florida Food Discussion and Tasting
$10
Enzian
Saturday, April 9, 2011. 12 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Sweeter than the syrup squeezed at Fort Lonesome, this relaxed afternoon is equal parts inspiring, enlightening, and fun!  Take delight in real fresh squeezed orange juice; home-brewed sweet tea; and the gem of Florida desserts, homemade Key Lime Pie—all served alongside specialty items available on our brunch menu. As you savor the flavors, Gary Mormino, a Florida historian, culture maven, food scholar, and gourmand, will answer the question, “What the heck is Swamp Cabbage?” during a surprising conversation on Florida’s sinful, bountiful cornucopia.

Come hungry.  A special Florida menu prepared by Enzian and Eden Bar Chef Charles Hamilton will be available to order.  It’s the perfect complement to a fascinating dialogue.

Celebrity Book Signing
Free and open to the public
Eden Bar
Saturday, April 9, 2011. 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.
Meet the special guests, share a laugh, gab about food, and grab an autograph or two during this gathering of food experts at the casual Floridian splendor of Eden Bar.

Floridian Feasting: A Native Tribute
$125
NORMAN’S at The Ritz Carlton, Grande Lakes
Saturday, April 9, 2011. 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
With dishes like Gasparilla Island grouper cheeks, steamed Steinhatchee clams, and Key West gamecock; this is the stuff food lovers’ dreams are made of.  This upscale feast features the flavors of Florida’s seductive cuisine and courses personally designed by a lineup of Florida’s culinary elite—all headlined by legendary award-winning Chef Norman Van Aken.

Sunday, April 10:

Fish Camp Brunch
$60
Black Hammock Restaurant
Sunday, April 10, 2011. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Throw etiquette out the window, pull up a chair, and pass the gator tail!  At this genuine Florida fish fry you will dine on the banks of beautiful Lake Jesup while you feast on favorites like home cooked okra, steamed crawfish, and sweet fritters.  Held at the certifiably-unforgettable Black Hammock Fish Camp and featuring live music, this Florida feast makes no apologies for its charming, regional authenticity.

Sunday, April 17:

Catfish Tales:  Charles’s Florida Brunch
$60
Eden Bar
Sunday, April 17, 2011. 11 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Enjoy a brunch that sparkles with regional flavors and fun—as carefree as the Sunshine State itself.  Enzian and Eden Bar Chef Charles Hamilton will offer the Florida-inspired meal you’ll deserve after nine days of nonstop film-food-friends.  Share your Festival tales at our own Eden Bar while you eat the best catfish south of the Suwannee River.  Brunch is served!

To purchase tickets to these events, visit FloridaFilmFestival.com or call 407-629-1088 ext. 0.

FLORIDA FILM FESTIVAL
The Florida Film Festival is the premier showcase in Central Florida for American independent and international film.  Celebrating its 20th anniversary, the Festival debuted in 1992 and is a core program of ENZIAN, a nonprofit cultural organization founded in 1985.  ENZIAN and the Florida Film Festival have served more than 1.5 million guests and hosted hundreds of notable celebrities including Paul Newman, Christopher Walken, Oliver Stone, Glenn Close, John Waters, Campbell Scott, James Caan, Ed Burns, Jason Lee, Gena Rowlands, William H. Macy and Virginia Madsen.  .The Festival is funded in part by national and local businesses and receives support from United Arts of Central Florida and the State of Florida, Department of the State, Division of Cultural Affairs, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, National Endowment for the Arts and Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences. In addition, this project is funded in part by Orange County Government through the Arts & Cultural Affairs Program.

Full Sail University (http://www.fullsail.edu) has been recognized as an award-winning institution with over 34,500 alumni and has served as an educational leader for those pursuing careers in the entertainment media industry. Graduate credits include work on OSCAR®, Emmy®, and GRAMMY®-winning projects; best-selling video games; and the #1 grossing U.S. concert tours. Full Sail currently offers 28 degree programs and proudly welcomes over 11,400 students from 50 states and 49 countries.

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1300 South Orlando Avenue  Maitland, FL 32751  Info Line: (407) 629-0054  Theater Offices: (407) 629-1088