Winner: Best Community Coffee Shop | Foxtail Coffee Co.
Committed to sustainability and responsible sourcing, Foxtail Coffee Co. uses the finest coffees from around the world. It is a fixture in the Winter Park community, where it roasts its coffee beans. It approaches the creation of its coffee drinks as a celebration, and you’ll feel that within its warm and welcoming environs. As locals know, the “Foxtail Experience” is something to cherish.
Winner: Best Caterer | Puff ‘n Stuff
No, it’s not a ‘60s-era puppet show, but home to some of the most beautiful cuisine you’ve ever seen. Whether you want to wow your wedding guests, serve a delectable breakfast buffet, put on a chic luncheon or a fancy dinner, the selections are nothing short of gorgeous—and good to the last scrumptious bite.
Winner: Frozen Treat | Twistee Treat
Who doesn’t love a good soft-serve cone? It stirs up memories of childhood summer treats. Those treats are even bigger and better today; Twistee Treat has almost two dozen soft serve flavors and can mix your favorites. Or try a specialty: the Waffle Taco, Hot Fudge Brownie Boat, Cookiewich or Twistee Banana Split. Multiple trips are necessary.
Winner: Downtown Restaurant | Artisan’s Table
According to Artisan’s Table’s guests, the restaurant is “hands-down one of the best food venues in downtown Orlando” and “an oasis.” Tempting menu items include Lamb Sliders, Scratch Meatballs and a Fried Artichoke Caesar loved by vegetarians and carnivores. Breakfast, lunch and dinner selections are available.
Winner: College Park Restaurant | Armando’s
A love of cooking, wine and celebrating family is what fuels the menu at Armando’s. It’s full of authentic recipes from Napoli and has an arm’s length list of selections, among them pasta, pizza (including build-your-own), baked eggplant stuffed with ricotta and salmon. The wine and cocktail lists are equally as impressive.
Winner: Chocolate Shop | Peterbrooke Chocolatier
A household name in Florida since 1983, Peterbrooke Chocolatier was founded by Phyllis Lockwood Geiger. In need of sweets to give out at a festival, Geiger was struck by inspiration and went to the movie theater next door, bought a huge bag of popcorn, tempered a bowl of chocolate and poured it over the popcorn. The result is Peterbrooke’s best-selling product to this day. Hand-dipped strawberries also beckon.
Winner: Winter Garden Restaurant | Chef’s Table at the Edgewater
Discover succulent farm-to-table cuisine at Chef’s Table at the Edgewater, winner of numerous Orlando magazine Dining Awards. Choose from two experiences; the Chef’s Table, where you can watch the culinary team at work from the full-view kitchen, and the lively Tasting Room, which serves up small plates, craft beer and has a full bar.
Winner: Seminole County Restaurant | Jimotti’s Restaurant
The mission of Jimotti’s Restaurant is to build a culture and community of Japanese food lovers in the Sanford area through its authentic Japanese cuisine. In Japanese, Jimotti means “local,” and chef/owner Junichi Takazoe and his team want Jimotti’s to be your post-work hangout—they tempt you with their flawless sushi, sake and dishes made with organic ingredients from local farms.
Winner: Osceola County Restaurant | Columbia Restaurant
The Spanish-Cuban Columbia Restaurant is an outpost of the famed Tampa namesake that’s Florida’s oldest restaurant. A short drive from Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando, our Columbia overlooks Celebration’s picturesque lake and offers classic elegance in a Mediterranean-style setting. Don’t miss the tapas bar.
Winner: Tacos | TaKo Cheena
A mainstay of the Mills 50 district, TaKo Cheena features a variety of Asian fusion delights. An emphasis is placed on unique and inventive flavor combinations, crafted with fresh and locally sourced ingredients. There’s nothing traditional about TaKo Cheena—from its wildly-painted, kitschy, hip exterior to its flavorful, Asian-fusion “takos,” the menu mainstay, most dressed with crunchy cabbage, scallions, kimchi and cilantro.
Winner: Restaurant Row Restaurant | Eddie V’s
Steak, seafood and the art of crafting cocktails is alive and well at Eddie V’s. Among the premium hand-cut steaks are a center cut filet mignon, bone-in ribeye and a bone-in New York strip with smoked chili rub. Seafood lovers will delight in raw oysters and Pacific Ahi tuna. And is there anything better to pair them with than a refined Smoked Old Fashioned?
Winner: Winter Park Restaurant | Prato
Blending Italian classics with modern techniques and seasonal ingredients, Prato is a darling of Winter Park. With its window-pained doors and year-round patio seating, it emphasizes the “Park” of Park Avenue, but puts on no airs. Its contemporary design is balanced by rustic elements, including a long bar just made for conversation.
Winner: I-Drive Restaurant | Pio Pio
Your first visit is never your last to Pio Pio, where proprietors Olga Raad and Juan Diego Isaza expertly recreate the culinary heritage of their native Colombia; everything here is rooted in Southern American tradition. Try any of the rotisserie chicken or ceviche selections. Happy hour is a must—and a great time to work through the irresistible bar menu.
Winner: Brewery | Crooked Can Brewery
Located inside Winter Garden’s Plant Street Market, Crooked Can Brewery was built on the passion for craft beer. The brewing process is closely monitored by an award-winning brewmaster to ensure each product meets the brand’s standard of excellence. Enjoy its core brews—the High Stepper American IPA, Florida Sunshine Lager and Cloud Chaser Hefeweizen—in addition to limited editions, seasonal and specialty batches.
Winner: Hotel Lounge | The Alfond Inn
The Alfond Inn takes lounging to a new art. When you enter through its doors, you’re welcomed with comfy couches and chairs you may never want to get up from, particularly when there’s a pianist at the keys. A little further in, there’s a library full of books, accompanied by still more couches and chairs, some with tables. A few steps more, you’re at the bar, where bands keep things lively. Here, the journey is the destination.
Winner: Wine Store | Tim’s Wine Market
Tim Varan has more than 30 years of experience in the wine business, and it shows. His family-owned shop curates wines that stand out in their respective categories and offer selections in every price point. His dedicated and friendly staff will ensure you leave with the bottle that best fits your occasion and budget—and exceeds your expectations.
Winner: Something Sweet | The Glass Knife
You’ve never seen a red velvet cake like the one at The Glass Knife. This decadent creation is a red, cocoa-infused cake, layered with cheesecake and cream cheese icing, topped with house-made buttercream and garnished with a swirl of gilded sprinkles and edible 23-karat gold flakes. Need we go any further?
Winner: Specialty Food Store | Dong-A Supermarket
The oldest Vietnamese-owned business in Mills 50, Dong-A Supermarket offers a sheer wealth of items—from herbal teas, vinegars and soy sauces to fresh produce, rice cakes with shrimp, even cooked, salted duck eggs. Products from all across Asia can be found. There’s also a self-serve case with sandwiches, sesame balls, tofu and desserts.
Winner: Specialty Food Pop Up | Kraken’s Drowned Nuts
Sometimes you feel like a nut. And with Kraken’s Drowned Nuts around, there’s not likely to be times you don’t. These boiled peanuts come in several gourmet flavors, such as Panang Curry, Beer & Onion Teriyaki, Mexican Chili and Korean BBQ. We can’t wait for the next flavor sensation.
