EVENT: Orlando Food & Wine Festival, Lake Eola, Downtown Orlando, FL

This past weekend (Nov 15-16, 2008) was the first annual Orlando Food & Wine Festival; it was held by Lake Eola on East Robinson Street. I didn't know about this until Saturday night when I caught up with Pom. It sounded like something new and different, and since I didn't have solid plans for Sunday, I decided to help out.

The festival included 25 food vendors plus numerous other booths advertising various products and services. In the clearing, across from Panera's, there was an Entertainment Stage sponsored by metroPCS with music, then on a side-street, there was a Chef's Stage presented by Travelhost.

Admission to the festival area was $15 ($10 in advance) and food was purchased using $2-tickets and ranged from 1 to 4 tickets ($2-$8). Pom Pom's Teachouse was vending and offered the following items:

Lavender Peppercorn Creme Brule -- 1 ticket

Chicken Yellow Curry Puff Pastry w/Warm Berry Culet -- 2 tickets

Miniature Lollypop Pork Shank w/Guava Ginger Glaze Served with Five Spice Sweet Potato Walnut Crust -- 3 tickets

I helped by rolling plastic forks in a napkin and going to get another hand-held torch for the crystallized sugar prep.

Earlier on, I had the opportunity to walk around the lake. It was a beautiful day with the right amount of sun and chill.

I walked over to the farmers' market on the SE corner of the lake, and the feeling was calm and nice -- the smell of incense, kettle corn, and citrus plants for sale. There were a number of dogs [well-behaved] including three English bulldogs.

Then continuing around the lake, there was a guy feeding an already-chubby squirrel (SO CUTE!).

Anyways, Pom was sold out of food by 4:30pm. She invited everyone to the shop for a celebration for the week of hard work, but many of us had to work the next day (other jobs). I decided to bail to Disney, and no one gave me a hard time -- everyone understood.

Overall, the Orlando Food & Wine Festival had much room for improvement but it was fine -- it was only their first year, and it was a reason to be outside and around friends.

Happy Birthday Uncle Cedric!

We've got our party hats on because it's Uncle Cedric's Birthday!


Are we first (to blog)?

Here's our virtual gift bag to you:


And one from Mom:


Yeah, they're empty. A blog post is more from the heart.

We miss you!


--Poker and Euchre (and Cindy)

And by request from the birthday boy...Outtakes! Twelve tries. A few right, mostly wrong, but always cute!
I'm waiting for Euchre


Wanna take a bath?


Around the corner, here we come!

Our Xmas vacation to Ohio

Sorry this is so late. We've been...lazy. --Poker and Euchre

This Christmas we went to Ohio. Mom surprised us with a trip. We didn't know we were going anywhere. See how calm we are?


The car was packed up and we had comfy accomodations. Here's Poker in the front seat. He got a pillow for this car ride.


But after a bathroom stop, he decided he wanted to stay in the back with Euchre instead. Awwww...


After our long car ride, we got dropped off in Cleveland so Mom could pick up Uncle Cedric from the airport. Here's Stitch. Where's Uncle Cedric?


There he is! At Aladdin's.



Uncle Cedric!!! happy feet!!! happy dance!!!


We're free! Where's our food?


Here's Mom & Joe.


Mom & Uncle Cedric cook dinner.



We have dinner too. Then we go outside. Euchre sticks to the back door giggle!--Poker Poker always goes around to the front door.


After dinner, everyone relaxes. Euchre can't seem to find a comfy spot. He tries a whole bunch of places.


Soon everyone goes to bed and Ajax is safe to come out.


The next morning everyone goes to the hockey rink to watch Victoria's game. Well, except us, we stay home.



Mom is coooold. Victoria's dad, Ron, is in the yellow jacket.


They win!


There's Victoria.


Wait - where'd she go?


Vicotria comes back to the house with her Mom & Dad.

We love Victoria! I like to jump up and knock her over! --Poker


Viictoria's dad wants to play too. I like playing with his socks! --Euchre


Ron gets his revenge on Euchre. And Poker.


Wait. Treat!


Later Mom, Cedric, and Joe go to theRock and Roll Hall of Fame.


Breakfast for lunch at Eat & Park.


Cedric gets some smiley face cookies to bring home. Joe likes the smiley face.


Poker likes the cookie.


And then they all went to the movies to see National Treasure 2. We stayed home :(


The next morning, we went to Akron to see Que-ma and Que-kong.


Grandma was playing Christmas songs on the dulcimer. Auntie Camille helped.


We stayed in the kitchen.


Afterwards, Grandma gave us treats!


And Auntie Camille played pool.


There was lots of food. Not for doggies. --Mom



And lots of Mah-Jongg.


Then everybody went to Cleveland for more food. We stayed home :(







Later Josie brought over a friend.


And everybody relaxed.



The next morning, Uncle Cedric and Mom went for a run. We stayed home :(



After the run, Mom took Grandpa to the Pro Football Hall of Fame.




With the Heisman trophy statue.


Grandpa finds Jim Brown in the Hall of Fame, but wait, you're covering up somebody!


Oh, it's only Vince Lombardi.


Grandpa enjoys the interactive exhibits. Here he's watching video of Jim Brown running.


Old costumes, I mean "uniforms"


These look familiar.


Grandpa with the Super Bowl Trophy.


That night we went back to Cleveland to see Victoria and her cousins open Christmas presents.





Some pictures "Joe style".


Euchre got gift-wrapped!


There was a lot of excitement and we were tired.


So Mom put on our jackets and we waited to go back to Akron.


Is it time to go yet?


Euchre waits patiently while Poker gets bored.



Back in Akron, Euchre finds a comfy spot in the basement.


While Poker hangs with Camille.



Euchre also likes Grandpa.


While everyone plays more Mah-Jongg, we make our own fun.Wrestling!


Everyone comes over for Christmas dinner.



Euchre gets gift-wrapped again while Ollie laughs!


Uncle Cedric gets a calendar for Christmas. Que-ma likes it too!


What's in our present?


Pigs?


Mom gets us as ornaments from Uncle Chris and Auntie Jin.


Camille can now mark all her beers. Mine! Mine! Mine! Mine!


More excitement. Euchre can't stand it.




Uncle Cedric is looking at me... --Poker


And more mah-jongg.


Mom saw these chinchillas at the pet store and those they'd make good toys for us.


More food.


We assume our usual spots.


So does Uncle Cedric.



We pose for one more picture, then we go home.


Uncle Cedric comes back to Baltimore with us, so we both ride in the back. We don't mind.


Mom takes us for a walk.



We like our pigs even though Poker still a little scared of the one that flips. We like chewing the nose on the pig that oinks.


We're glad to be home.

--Poker and Euchre