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Orlando Flavor Island Time
Food + Drink • Orlando

Orlando Flavor Island Time

How well do you know Olando? Beyond the amazing worlds created inside the theme parks lies the City of Orlando, a diverse and vibrant place to explore, particularly when it comes to food. Flavor by Loews Hotels, our hyper-local food and beverage program, allows you to experience some of Florida’s unique flavors while enjoying a Caribbean island escape at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, a South Seas paradise at Loews Royal Pacific Resort or an Italian seaside village at Loews Portofino Bay Hotel.

The good news is you don’t have to get on a boat or a plane to feel like you’ve been transported to the Caribbean. At Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, the lush surroundings and laidback vibe will instantly lull you into a carefree state of mind so you can enjoy life at a more leisurely pace – what we call “island time.” You’ll find authentic Caribbean recipes and flavors throughout Loews Sapphire Falls, all created with thoughtfully crafted, locally sourced ingredients to ensure your taste of the islands makes you feel right at home.

A Man Standing In Front Of A Produce Stand

Pure Produce

Pure Produce’s name says it all – its mission is producing high-quality, fresh vegetables using the cleanest methods possible. This family-owned hydroponic farm is located in Sebastian, Florida, along the beautiful Indian River. Alex Gomez and his family grow “everything for a great salad,” including Baby English cucumbers, beefsteak tomatoes, Holland sweet bell peppers, butter lettuce and kale. True to the family’s roots, everything is hand-picked and packed from 18 full-size imperial style greenhouses without the use of any machines. It’s hard to imagine a purer way to get your produce.

You’ll find Pure Produce’s locally grown veggies in a variety of healthy, hearty dishes at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort — like the Baja Spiced Chicken Salad at Drhum Club Kantine, the West Indian Vegetable Curry and Grilled Pineapple Salad at Amatista Cookhouse, and the Vegetable Hot Pot at Strong Water Tavern. Have I mentioned how well these pair with rum?

A Person Standing In Front Of A Rock

St. Augustine Distillery 

Speaking of rum, there’s certainly no shortage of it at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort! Strong Water Tavern serves more than 100 different types of rum, including St. Augustine Distillery rum, sourced from a locally founded and community-owned craft distillery in St. Augustine, Florida, the United States’ oldest city. St. Augustine Distillery’s story is as authentic as the craft spirits they create – it all began with 28 Floridians who came together to form a business collaborative, utilizing local ingredients to bring small-batch spirits and craft distilling to their corner of the Sunshine State. Their rum, in addition to whiskey, vodka and gin, is made and served in Florida’s oldest ice plant.

The Fountain of Youth cocktail, served at Strong Water Tavern, will give you new life after an exciting day of adventures in the theme parks. While you’re there, be sure to try a few of the authentic Caribbean tapas on the menu like Ceviche, Sopes, Papa Rellena and Curry Goat. 

A Person Sitting At A Table With A Plate Of Food

Palmetto Creek Farms

Pork is a cornerstone of Caribbean cuisine and at Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, you’ll find many mouthwatering ways to savor it island-style. While we serve plenty of pork-centric dishes, we value quality above all, which is why we partner with Palmetto Creek Farms, a family-owned and operated farm located south of Orlando in Avon Park. They’re committed to producing natural pork, which means they don’t use artificial enhancers, preservatives, chemicals or additives and employ free-range farming techniques to ensure the best-tasting, highest-quality pork.

From the Mojo Pork Tacos at Drhum Club Kantine, to the Cuban Burger at Amatista Cookhouse, to the Sopes and Chicharrones at Strong Water Tavern, Loews Sapphire Falls Resort offers so many delicious ways to “pig out” on Palmetto Creek Farms’ natural pork. If you’re looking for a truly authentic Caribbean experience, check out the hand-carved whole roasted hog at Caribbean Carnaval, our weekly dinner show featuring an all-you-can-eat buffet of island flavors.

Our local partners like Pure Produce, St. Augustine Distillery and Palmetto Creek Farms help us bring the distinct flavors of the Caribbean islands to Loews Sapphire Falls Resort, located in the middle of all the action at Universal Orlando Resort! For more information on Flavor by Loews Hotels, visit www.loewshotels.com/flavor.

Loews Hotels & Co.