Savoring La Dolce Vita (Sweet Life) with #HarborNights at @Loews_Hotels Portofino Bay!

Under the twinkling nights of Loews Portofino Bay Hotel’s Harbor Piazza, Harbor Nights is an enchanting food and wine event series featuring live music, select wines including sparkling from Stacole Fine Wines and gourmet foods and desserts from the hotel’s award-wining culinary team.

Complete with cobblestone streets and sidewalk cafes, Loews Portofino Bay hotel literally transports you to some of the most romantic cities in the world – Florence, Venice, and my personal favorite Roma. With a glass of cava in my hand, I strolled around the Piazza savoring the food stations showcasing all the restaurants located at Portofino Bay.

Harbor Nights Menu:

• Mama Della’s Ristorante: Seared Herb Salmon, Pearl Pasta, Brocolini Risotto, Crispy Parmesan Crumble
• Splendidos Bar and Grill: Citrus BBQ Pulled Pork Slider, Green Apple and Cabbage Slaw.
• Bice: Sambuca Glazed Oven roasted Mini Pork Chop with roasted fresh fennel with fresh cabbage and cranberry slaw.
• Trattoria del Porto: Sauteed Gnoochi, Beef Brisket, Mushroom Ragout, Polenta Cake.
• Sal’s Deli Market: Tuscany Tomato Shrimp with Garlicky and Herb Angel Hair Pasta.
• Gelataria: Triple Chocolate, Espresso Gelato.
• Dessert: Classic Tiramisu with Berries. Pastry Chef selected soft serve Gelato.

 

No Italian meal is complete without wine. Wine and Bread are as essential to an Italian dinner as a fork and knife (if not more). Along with olive oil they make “Santa Trinita Mediterranea” – the Mediterranean Holy Trinity. Stacole Fine Wines were pouring a variety of wines from sparkling, whites, and reds. The wine flowed, delectable bites cooked fresh, the music rocking…..I haven’t had so much fun under one roof or shall we say stars as far as I can recall.

Just when I the evening couldn’t get any better, Portofino Bay took it to another level with live Opera Performance with one of the most elating classics – Brindisi from La Traviata amongst others.  What a TREAT! And for the pop lovers, there was plenty to keep you dancing under the stars with a live Rock Band.

These perfectly seared and moist Sambuca Glazed Oven roasted Mini Pork Chop with roasted fresh fennel with fresh cabbage and cranberry slaw provided by Bice were the unanimous favorite of the evening.

We also got to preview and sample the latest Starbucks feature. Located on the Harbor Piazza, featuring Starbucks Reserve Coffee brewed with the exclusive Clover Brewing System found only in select Starbucks stores.

Did I mention the Gelateria Caffé Espresso shop adjoining Starbucks? Of course where else but in Italy will you stroll around with freshly made gelato. Now showcasing seasonal menu including Pumpkin and Spice!

A picture is worth a thousand words! These drool-inducing photographs are courtesy of the talented Bokeh Studio. Mille Grazie (thousand thanks) to each and everyone person involved in hosting such a smashing culinary event. I had no clue that this little piece of heaven existed in Central Florida. I can’t wait to check out the next Harbor Nights!

Connect with Lowes Portofino Bay Hotel at Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. To purchase your tickets for the next Harbor Nights Affair, Click HERE.

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