Canvas Restaurant and Market

13615 Sachs Ave.
Orlando, FL 32827
407-313-7800

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Canvas is the brand new restaurant and market located at the Laureate Park Village Center in the heart of Lake Nona. 

Over the years the area of Lake Nona has seen some pretty rapid development, most notably of which is the development of Lake Nona Medical City. The 650 acre health and life sciences park is a landmark for Orlando and a premier location for medical care, research and education. Canvas Restaurant and Market, as it is formally named, is certainly hoping to make the area a premier dining destination as well.

Led by Executive Chef Bryan Thoman, the Canvas restaurant menu features new American cuisine that is influenced by Florida’s Southern and Latin American roots with a focus on seasonal and regional produce as well as an abundance of fresh, Florida seafood. The chef driven menu is filled with shareable appetizers, creative salads and sandwiches, hearty entrees, and wood grilled pizzas and flatbreads.

Every detail of Canvas has been thoughtfully designed and planned to create a welcoming space for guests. The restaurant’s exhibition style kitchen opens to the main dining room while floor-to-ceiling windows provide picturesque waterfront views. 

The market part of Canvas is open daily for breakfast and lunch. Guests can stop in and have a meal at the market’s communal table or chose from a variety of grab and go options, gourmet coffee, and fresh-squeezed juice and smoothies. The market also has comfortable seating and nooks where patrons can enjoy food and complimentary WiFi.

Diners can opt to sit inside in cozy banquettes, enjoy a meal out on the terrace overlooking the water, or toast with handcrafted cocktails at the prominent wooden bar.

The market also features a selection of carefully curated housewares, books, jewelry, local goods and furnishings in addition to housing the new Lake Nona Information Center.

Canvas is also very serious about its cocktails and drink menu. In addition to a great beer and wine selection the cocktail selection here is top notch. On the left is The Pink Flower with Hendrick’s Gin, Cointreau, Cappelletti, Lemon Juice, Boston Bittahs Bitters. On the right is a Postal by Plane with Flor de Cana 4 yr Anejo Rum( A rum I haven't had since my visit to Roatan, Honduras).

The Smoked Fish Dip features house smoked white fish, spiced cream cheese, sour cream and Parmesan flatbread for dipping. This was a very rich and delicious fish dip that was more than enough for two people to share.

On the Smaller Plates section of the menu, you can find the Apple Bourbon Braised Short Rib with brown butter, wild mushrooms, tomato confit, house made ricotta cheese and olive oil grilled sourdough bread to put all of that wonderful short rib on.

The Southern Hospitality Smash pictured left is made with Woodford Reserve bourbon, dry curacao, pineapple, basil and grapefruit bitters. To the right is a Very Dirty Martini.

The Pan Roasted Snapper not only looked spectacular, it tasted spectacular as well. This dish is served in a soy ginger sauce with with soy ginger glazed carrots and bok choy.

There are many great selections on the menu at Canvas, but as a burger lover, I couldn't resist the Short Rib and Brisket Burger with garlic dill pickles, lettuce, tomato, aged cheddar, caramelized onions, house made thousand island dressing on a brioche bun with hand cut fries. I could go on and on about this burger, but I’ll sum it up like this...This burger has potential to be one of Orlando’s top 5 burgers.

Although the Apple Crisp may seem like a basic dessert, I can assure you this was not your grandma’s apple crisp. The one at Canvas features gala apples, red D’Anjou pears, oat-almond crumble and is topped with salted caramel ice cream. Even as full as we already were, we managed to devour this wonderful dessert.

The 278 seat restaurant is one of Orlando’s only waterfront dining destinations and is really a beautiful restaurant from top to bottom. You may not live close to Lake Nona or Medical City, but I highly recommend you make the drive over there to check Canvas Restaurant and Market out. Who knows...you may even decide to become a resident of one of Orlando’s fastest growing communities.

The Restaurant part of Canvas is open Monday through Thursday from 5:00 pm to 10:00 pm, Friday and Saturday from 5:00 pm to 11:00 pm and Sunday from 5:00 pm to 9:00 pm.

The Bar Opens daily at 3:00 pm, and the market is open from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm.

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Cocina 214

151 E. Welbourne Ave, 

Winter Park, FL 32789
407-790-7997

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Whenever I am thinking about dining out in beautiful Downtown Winter Park, often times Mexican food does not cross my mind. 

There are lots of dining options in that area from upscale to casual, but for some reason I often overlook Cocina 214. I am a big fan of authentic Mexican food and the Americanized Tex-Mex food as well, so I was delighted to attend a new menu preview event for Cocina 214.

What exactly is Cocina 214 you may ask? Cocina is Spanish for Kitchen, and the 214 part comes from the Dallas area code, because the owners, who are from Texas, missed the Tex-Mex and Mexican foods they grew up on. The menu is full of contemporary Mexican and Tex-Mex inspired dishes that combine bold flavors with the freshest local ingredients. Items like Queso Fundido and Guacamole at Cocina 214 may be your average Tex-Mex standard fare, but you will be hard pressed to find Fried Avocado Bites at any other Mexican restaurant in Central Florida.

The same goes with the rest of the menu here too. Items like Snapper Frito Tacos, Truffle and Mushroom Quesadillas, Cauli Frito Tacos and Corn Crusted Mahi are sure to impress the adventurous palate. If you want more traditional, Cocina has that too, with Chicken Tamales, Brisket Quesadilla and an assortment of Tacos and Fajitas.

Fried Avocado Bites are lightly breaded hass avocados fried and served with chipotle cream dipping sauce, and are very delicious. 

The Mango Ceviche features snapper, serrano peppers, red onion, red bell pepper, citrus and mango.

For something a little lighter, Isidro’s Caesar salad is made with romaine lettuce, cotija cheese, fried onions strings, grape tomatoes, homemade croutons and Caesar dressing.

The Mexican Corn is a tasty Aperitivo, or appetizer with grilled corn, cayenne pepper, lime, cotija cheese and queso fresco.

The Dragon Fruit Margarita is sweet and flavorful, and is only available for a limited time. The margarita menu at Cocina 214 features everything from house made specialties to Skinny Ritas and even a “Pop Rocks Rita.”

Enchiladas are served Mexican-style with romaine lettuce, queso fresco, onions, sour cream, grape tomatoes & veggie rice. You can add protein to them such as chicken or beef and you have an option of sauces as well.

Snapper Frito Tacos are traditional Mexican street tacos with lightly fried wild snapper topped with coastal slaw, pico de gallo and a chipotle cream sauce.

For an awesome vegetarian option, the Cauli Frito tacos are lightly fried cauliflower, coastal slaw, red bell peppers and chipotle cream sauce. These tacos were crispy and tasty and had a great taste.

Another item not readily found at most Mexican restaurants, the Snapper Veracruz with wild snapper, tomato, olive, caper, herb topping and veggie rice was quite delightful.

For the burger lover, Maria’s Gourmet Burger is sure to hit the spot. This burger features grilled pineapple on an Angus beef burger, Olde Hearth Bread poppy seed bun, Monterrey jack cheese and is served with grilled Mexican corn.

You can never go wrong with Churros for a sweet ending. The Churros at Cocina 214 come with a dulce de leche dipping sauce and are fantastic.

If you’re looking to dine out in the charming Winter Park Historic District, or want an authentic Tex-Mex dinner, consider Cocina 214 and put it on your radar. This restaurant is perfect for every occasion and you and your guests will be sure to enjoy.

The bar features a happy hour on Monday to Thursday from 4:30pm to 6:30pm with $5 214 Rocks & Frozen margaritas, $3 Draft Beers and $5 Wells

Brunch is served Saturday & Sundays from 11:00am to 3:00pm with $3 Brunch Mimosas

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