Food Glorious Food

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Added: Fri Nov 2nd 10:44am
Posted in: Cuisine

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Before the Food Network and hit shows like "Top Chef," I was laboring away in the then unglamorous restaurant industry. My family has been running restaurants in the Central Florida area since 1948. For more than 30 years, the Central Florida landmark Villa Nova was operated by my family. In 1984, I struck out on my own and started Jordan's Grove restaurant. It garnered many awards, , including Florida Trend magazine's "Golden Spoon Award." It was highly rated in the prestigious Zagat Guide and was prominently featured in national magazines such as Food and Wine, The Wine Spectator, Southern Hospitality and Bon Appetit. Working at Jordan's gave me a great platform to start several groups to benefit local charities. The Swamp Cabbage Country Club was a group of local chefs from restaurants and hotel from across Central Florida who banded together to produce food and wine events with all proceeds going to local charities. I also founded the Central Florida Harvest (it is not associated with Second Harvest Food Bank). Volunteers picked up unused food from restaurants and hotels all around Central Florida and delivered it to shelters to the needy. I urge anyone in the restaurants business to consider this simple yet life-changing option in their area. One of the things that I was proudest of at Jordan's Grove was our use of locally grown produce. I'll never understand why our food has to travel so far from field to mouth. Not only is local produce a key part of healthier living, I'm also a passionate advocate of using healthy alternatives to fat-based flavors and condiments by using inventive techniques like roasting, grilling and spicing. I hope you'll come along with me as we tour the world's undiscovered wineries and restaurants to discover hidden culinary treasures.