REW Visits The Ravenous Pig

If you are looking for the nice, comfy and relaxed atmosphere of your local bar and the elegance and eclectic menu choices of a fine dining restaurant, then a gastropub is what you are searching for. A hidden gem established by chef owners James and Julie Petrakis have done a excellent job of blending these two worlds. Having trained at the Culinary Institute of America in Hyde Park, NY they decided to return to their native Florida roots, drawing inspiration from England's gastropubs on serving good food and hand-crafted cocktails in a relaxed and comfortable atmosphere. This local hot spot is known as The Ravenous Pig: An American Gastropub which James says is, "a place where you can get great food in a lively, unstuffy atmosphere."

While they keep things on the casual side, they do advise making reservations for dinner time as it is the busiest time of the day and there might be a bit of a wait if you just drop by. The menu is varied in nature, so you can get the pub favorite of the house-made soft pretzel with whole-grain mustard or the shrimp tacos delicately prepared to perfection. A Mahi burger for lunch or a grilled sockeye salmon dish will accentuate every taste bud. Each dish, whether it be lunch or dinner, is prepared with many local organic ingredients and are utilized based on season. James explains, "Florida has produce and seafood that is second to none. We really enjoy showing people what Florida and its coasts have to offer." Dessert being the most important part of the meal of course, house-made seasonal flavored ice cream or sherbet and "pig tail" fritters are decadent enough to satisfy that sweet craving. However, their menu changes monthly, so if you have happen to hesitate on a particular item, keep in mind it might not be there next month. The extensive wine and cocktail list will meet the needs of a casual drinker to the wine connoisseur. With the combination of leisure and class, The Ravenous Pig makes sure their guests have a fun a tasty experience each and every time.

Celebrating The Ravenous Pig's 5year anniversary on October 3rd- James and Julie have definitely left their mark on the Central Florida restaurant scene - and they are about to make a even bigger mark as they plan to open a sister restaurant Cask and Larderthis fall. Staying busy, they are also palnning on the release of a new cookbook titled; The Ravenous Pig: Seasons Of Florida, coming out on October 2nd just in time for their anniversary.

The Ravenous Pig is located at 1234 N. Orange Ave. Winter Park, Fl 32789
http://www.theravenouspig.com/

http://www.caskandlarder.com/

www.Facebook.com/pages/the-ravenous-pig/48468194369

Published by:
Ramona Weisent

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