Food & Drink: A Magic Menu

Chef Michael Symon (CRAIG SIODIN)

Last year saw the debut of the Orlando Wine Festival and Auction, a big ticket, big celebrity chef event that generated more than $900,000 for the Orlando Magic Youth Foundation and introduced Orlando to three days of food and wine-focused events.

This year, as they say, bigger and better. The 2020 series runs March 13-15 featuring headliner chef Michael Symon (below), who’s a Food & Wine Best New Chef, James Beard Award winner and co-host of ABC’s The Chew. Two-Michelin-star awardee Gabriel Kreuther and Michelin-starred Akshay Bhardwaj join. Local connections also are on the ticket: Chef Art Smith (Homecomin’ by Chef Art Smith); two-time James Beard Best Chef, Northeast winner Melissa Kelly (Primo); Brandon McGlamery (Luma on Park, Prato); Jamie McFadden (Cuisiniers); and multiple James Beard Award nominees James and Julie Petrakis (The Ravenous Pig) and Kathleen Blake.

The chefs and more than a dozen vintners will hold private dinners in host homes, a VIP game-day experience at the Amway Center, an outdoor wine festival at Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes, and a grand auction and dinner. Package prices start at $2,500 for two guests; more information at wineauctionorlando.com

—J.H.