By Peter Covino
Lifestyles Editor

It’s summer dinner show time at the Osceola Center for the Arts.

The center will present the Summer Dinner Show Music From the Silver Screen June 9-10.

The Center Singers will provide both the entertainment and the service at the weekend event. Kissimmee restaurant Signature by the Lake will prepare the dinner.

“The Center Singers have been performing together for several years and are vocally one of the most talented groups in Osceola County” said Ed Moore, executive director for the Center.

The singers will perform solos and group numbers with songs from classic films such as Grease, 9 to 5, Walk the Line and Rent throughout the dinner.

Dinner includes a salad and rolls, steak, vegetables, dessert, sweet tea and coffee.  Wine will be available for purchase.  The dinner show is $30 per person and reservations are required in advance.

“Music from the Silver Screen” will take place in the Center’s Studio Theatre. For reservations, please call 407.846.6257 Ext. 0.  The Osceola Center for the Arts is located at 2411 E. Hwy 192 between Kissimmee and St. Cloud.

Food Trucks

The Food Trucks are back on the streets of downtown Kissimmee tonight (Friday) by the Kissimmee Civic Center. About a dozen trucks are expected. Most trucks take credit cards, but some only take cash. The hours are 6-9 p.m.

The next edition of Food Truck Wars comes to Cranes Roost Park in Altamonte Springs, July 15.

Some 40 gourmet food trucks from all over the state will be at the site competing in 6 categories.

There will be some new trucks debuting and some from the 1st round of the event seeking revenge. Foodies will have a chance to vote on cuisines from Thai, fish & chips, barbecue, gourmet cupcakes and a lot more.

Categories include Favorite Desserts along with the original categories of Peoples Choice Award, Top Sales, Largest Single Food Item, Chefs Taste Off, and the Most Fun Food Truck Appearance.

The Altamonte Springs Optimist Club will be at the event working along with the shows promoters to raise money in support of its’ local charities.

At the inaugural event in March an estimated 30,000 people turned up. The 37 food trucks sold out of food completely. How much food can 30,000 people eat? How about a 4 foot x 3 foot trough of nachos, 40 lbs of Gator 40 lbs of shrimp. In addition to an amazing event, food trucks and foodies donated over $3,000 through the Oviedo Optimist Club.

“Food Truck Wars I was an amazing experience,” said Liz Otts, President of Food Truck Crazy, Inc and Food Truck Wars II will be even better,” she said.

Pork & Wings Bash

The inaugural Central Florida Pork & Wings BBQ Bash and Competition comes to the Central Florida Fairgrounds, June 8-9 from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.

The new event will provide a great opportunity to taste grilled flavors, see cooking demonstrations, and check out the latest grills and accessories to enhance everyone’s summer grilling experience, according the event organizers.

This years’ bash will include: live entertainment, a sports tent, kid zone, contests and tournaments, dance instruction, and giveaways. In addition, $10,000 in prize money is up for grabs for BBQ teams looking to compete for bragging rights! What is unique to this event is the inclusion of the category of “Wings” for “Best Overall Taste” among grilling competitors. There will also be the standard competition categories of ribs, pulled pork, beef brisket, and chicken.

“Our BBQ bash will provide fertile ground not only for food service companies, but also businesses looking to build their brands through our captive audience. This year’s event promises to be fun for the entire family,” R. Stan Kelly, of Othal Partners, the creator and producer of the show.

Admission and parking is free.  Guests exchange dollar-for-dollar “Pork Bucks” to purchase food and beverages. For more information or to reserve vendor space or sponsorship, visit www.porkandwingsbbq-

bash.com.

or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Healthy dining

Continuing its longtime commitment to healthy initiatives, Rosen Hotels & Resorts will play host to the first-ever Gourmet Soiree, an interactive dinner of tasty and nutritious cuisine developed by Florida Hospital to support its Healthy 100 movement that promotes creating a culture of health and wellness in Central Florida.

Celebrity chefs Robert Irvine, host of the Food Network’s “Restaurant: Impossible,” and the  Food Network’s “Cupcake Wars” winner Hollis Wilder, owner of the local Sweet! by Holly cupcake shop, will co-host the evening of epicurean enlightenment on Sunday from 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Rosen Shingle Creek and provide professional tips for creating meals that are both palate pleasing and healthy.

Individual tickets for Gourmet Soiree are $250 per person and can be purchased at http://www.fhfoundation.com/GourmetSoiree/salespack.pdf.

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