Orange County and Orlando are home to 6 James Beard Award-nominated restaurants and chefs, making it difficult to narrow the list to 5.
Cask & Larder: Chef-owners James and Julie Petrakis pull out all the stops on the best of regional cookery and make the dishes even better.
565 W. Fairbanks Ave., Winter Park;
321-280-4200; caskandlarder.com
K Restaurant Wine Bar: Chef Kevin
Fonzo’s converted bungalow is a special retreat. Don’t miss the fried-green-tomato stack with sweet-corn and crab salad and grain-mustard dressing.
1710 Edgewater Drive, Orlando; 407-872-2332; krestaurant.net
Luma on Park: Chef Brandon McGlamery has championed seasonally inspired
cuisine since he took the restaurant’s helm
in 2006.
290 S. Park Ave, Winter Park; 407-599-4111; lumaonpark.com
The Rusty Spoon: Inspired by London’s gastropubs, chef Kathleen Blake has opened an American hybrid with an emphasis on local farmers and food purveyors.
55 W. Church St., Orlando; 407-401-8811;
therustyspoon.com
Txokos Basque Kitchen: Chefs Henry and Michele Salgado, owners of the award-winning Spanish River Grill in New Smyrna Beach, have created an inspired take on the cuisine of northern Spain.
East End Market, 3201 Corrine Drive, Suite 100, Orlando; txokoskitchen.com; 321-972-8852
Heather McPherson
