Magical Dining’s James Beard and Michelin roster continues to grow

Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining is no stranger to the James Beard Foundation Awards or even the Michelin Guide.

In fact, Beard- and Michelin-affiliated chefs have been on its roster in the past (we’re looking at you, Wolfgang Puck, whose Bar & Grill in Disney Springs is among the participants), but in recent years, the connections are getting more profound.

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Nine Michelin-recommended venues, in cuisines ranging from Asian to Mediterranean, Latin to modern American and beyond, are offering three-course meals in both the $40 and $60 pricing tiers.

James Beard Foundation-recognized venues too, are in the mix. Case in point, all four restaurants in the Good Salt Restaurant Group , helmed by Beard Award semifinalists , Jason and Sue Chin. It’s a first for the locally lauded company, which has participated in the program in the past but not to this extent.

“The reason why we decided to have all four restaurants participate this year, aside from supporting this year’s charity, The Mustard Seed of Central Florida , is to do our part in highlighting the neighborhoods that our restaurants represent,” said Jason Chin. “One of the great things about Orlando is its diverse neighborhoods, and Magical Dining is a wonderful opportunity to go out and explore areas of the city that you don’t regularly visit, like Baldwin Park, the North Quarter and Creative Village.”

Good Salt Restaurants Seito Sushi Baldwin Park (4898 New Broad St., #32814, in Orlando), The Osprey (4899 New Broad St. in Orlando), Reyes Mezcaleria (821 N. Orange Ave. in Orlando) and The Monroe (448 N. Terry Ave. Orlando) are located in these neighborhoods. Each has three-course menus available in the $40 tier, featuring sumptuous dishes from truly world-class chefs.

Speaking of, this is the first year of participation for Norman’s Orlando (7924 Via Dellagio Way in Orlando), whose legend-level namesake, Norman Van Aken, chuckles when I tell him so.

Van Aken’s awards straddle the categories with the grace and elasticity of a cirque performer, which he recognizes himself while perusing his office for the accolades.

“I’ve won as a chef, an author and a restaurateur,” he says. “Triple Crown, baby!”

He’s long admired the Magical Dining program, which mirrors a similar one in Miami, for its initial goals of helping small businesses and their employees during a traditionally slow season.

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“The summer is rough in the restaurant business,” he says. “And you know, my mom was a server. And my older sister. I come from a place of listening to the stories of my mother and my sister counting the tips out in the kitchen and it sort of seeped into my subconsciousness. And then I married a server, too! Janet was a waitress when we met.”

These days, Van Aken is moved by the level at which the donations from each meal make a difference in the lives of Central Floridians.

“I love this community,” he says. “And I think it appeals to them not only because it’s a chance to dine inexpensively or try new things but also a chance to do some good.”

At Norman’s, regulars will find their favorites available at a lower price point, and newcomers can sample the creativity that landed him that triple crown, like the blue crab beignets and pan-cooked fillet of Key West yellowtail snapper.

Meanwhile, in the heart of one of Orlando’s homiest ‘hoods, the colorful duo of Kirt and Maxine Earhart are happy to rep the Michelin-recommended at their homey lil’ spot on Shine Street.

“Being Michelin-recommended three years in a row blows us away,” says the ever-lyrical Kirt Earhart. “We all certainly hit some potholes in our dining lives, but having the endorsement of such a road-ready and tried company saying ‘Check them out’ builds the thread in our tread on being the little restaurant that would.”

Despite Maxine’s on Shine (337 Shine Ave. in Orlando) being well known in the community, Earhart thinks the Michelin and the Magical Dining cred amps their visibility in valuable ways.

“Diners have never had so many choices in Orlando as they do right now,” he opines. “Sometimes, a long-time establishment may lose the shine-y appeal to the new steak on the block. Magical Dining allows all of us the opportunity to garner the tipping point of the diners’ fork or glass.”

For a searchable roster of Michelin-recommended restaurants, visit OrlandoMagicalDining.com .

Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter or Instagram @amydroo or on the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie . Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com , For more foodie fun, join the Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group .