Taste of Space Returns to Kennedy Space Center!

Beginning September 30, guests can take a bite out of the galaxy at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex! During Taste of Space, an annual event that takes place at the visitor complex, guests will discover multiple ways to pique their palates with the flavors of fall: Taste of Space: Fall Bites!; Marstini Shake-Off; and Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition.

Taste of Space: Fall Bites!

A delectable selection of special menu items featuring the distinctive flavors of fall will be available at several eateries throughout the visitor complex during Taste of Space: Fall Bites! From September 30 to November 3, visitors can indulge in out-of-this-world, limited-time menu items as follows:

• Inside Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex^®, the Space Bowl Bistro will feature a colorful harvest bowl that includes quinoa, tricolored potatoes, super greens, diced granny smith apples and goat cheese, finished with maple syrup.
• A trip to Orbit Cafe will warm guests up with a hearty chili featuring lentils and squash or delectable cranberry brie “Moon” puffs with honey and toasted almonds.
• For dessert, guests can head to Milky Way for a flaky pear galette topped with vanilla bean ice cream.
• A meteor shower can be found at Red Rock Grill in the form of lamb “meteor” meatballs featuring spiced mint marinara.
• The Moon Rock Cafe, located at the Apollo/ Saturn V Center, will offer an autumn pizza topped with bacon, fig and habanero spread, squash, sweet potato, sopressata, cheddar cheese and sage.

Local brews will also be available for purchase inside Planet Play.

Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off

On October 4, bartenders from Lourdes Library, The Space Bar, Playalinda’s Brix Project, 28 North Gastropub, The Alilbi Cocktails & Bites, and Oceanside Distillery will compete for the coveted Marstini trophy at the fourth annual Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off. To take place inside Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, guests over 21 can sample each Marstini and enjoy several fall dishes while mingling with veteran NASA astronaut Tony Antonelli. Attendees will also have the opportunity to vote for their favorite cocktail creation to win the People’s Choice Award.

Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition

Another foodie favorite event returns on November 2 with the third Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition, a celebrity-studded chef demo and dinner after-hours event. Renowned chefs Duff Goldman and Amanda Freitag will serve up something special for attendees that is guaranteed to make their taste buds blast off. Plus, chef Jon Ashton will host the evening and create a stupendous dish. Chefs Goldman, Freitag and Ashton will demonstrate their expert cooking techniques alongside veteran astronauts Robert Cabana, Janet Kavandi and Jose Hernandez. Guests will have the chance to enjoy exclusive menu items as they hear personal stories about the experience of eating in space as well as favorite foods the astronauts enjoyed during their flights. The chance to take photos with the astronauts following the demo will only be bested by a delectable selection of desserts, including a specialty cake designed by Duff himself and Charm City Cakes.

"Oh man, I’m pumped to be heading back to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex for the third time to celebrate Taste of Space 2024! Honestly, it’s like being a kid in a candy store for me,” said Duff Goldman. “The exhibits totally bring the epic history of space exploration to life, and getting to hang with real astronauts? That’s just out of this world! Plus, I get to serve up some killer food and show off some fun, creative techniques right in the middle of all this awesome space history. Kennedy Space Center and Taste of Space always fire up my imagination, and over the years have inspired me to make some of my all-time favorite cakes. I’m baking up some wild stuff for this year’s event that guests are not going to want to miss!"

Gourmands seeking a bit more flavor can take advantage of a very limited number of tickets available for an exclusive meal that will follow the chef demo. The two-hour, sit-down, multi-course dinner will feature a menu designed by Goldman, Freitag and Ashton and will take place on the second floor of Gateway inside the flight terminal of Spaceport KSC. Personal visits to each table will be made by the celebrity chefs and astronauts in attendance. Ending the meal with a treat sweeter than most desserts, guests will have the chance to mingle and take photos with Goldman, Freitag and Ashton.

Foodie Fun for the Whole Family

New this year, an exclusive family-friendly ice cream social with Goldman and Freitag will round out the Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition weekend. On Sunday, November 3, the chefs will conduct a short demo while interacting with guests as they create their own ice cream sundaes. Duff’s signature cake will also be on display during the event.

For more information about Taste of Space, visit www.kennedyspacecenter.com.

Taste Of Space.Photo byKennedy Space Center