Some of the best chefs in Orlando will be heading to Downtown Orlando on Tuesday, April 8th, 2014 for A Taste of Compassion Street Party from 6 PM – 9 PM on the street that runs through the campus of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando.
A Taste of Compassion
We cover a lot of food and drink events here at Orlando Local Guide but this is one we’d really like to showcase because of the mission behind it. A Taste of Compassion supports two of the biggest organizations in downtown Orlando whose only purpose is to help and support the areas homeless population in the Central Care Mission and Compassion Corner. The event is a collaboration of the two ministries and some of Orlando’s best chefs and restaurants.
A Taste of Compassion Chefs and Restaurants
The chefs for the 2014 event are TBA. Some of the chefs that will be participated in the 2013 Taste of Compassion event include chefs from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, the American Culinary Federation, Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort, Shula’s 347 Grill, Luigino’s Restaurant, Valencia College, Timeless Pastries, and Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge (see video at end of story).
The entire list of participating chefs and restaurants for the 2013 event were:
- AAA National Headquarters
- American Culinary Federation – Central Florida Chapter
- Arnold Palmer’s Bay Hill Club & Lodge
- Arthur’s Creative Events & Catering
- Bar Harbor Seafood/Boston Lobster Feast
- Caribe Royale Resort & Suites
- Catered By Patti Caces
- Citrus Club
- Cookie Cousins
- Empress Sissi Cake & Pastry Specialties
- FreshPoint of Central Florida
- Gordon Food Service
- LeCordon Bleu – Orlando
- Luigino’s Restaurant – Lake Mary
- MUSE Gelato
- Nestle Professional
- Shula’s 347 Grill at the Westin, Lake Mary
- Spring Hills Corp.
- Technical Education Center of Osceola’s Culinary Program
- The Green Coat Catering Co.
- Timeless Pastries
- Valencia College’s Culinary Management Program
- Walt Disney World Swan & Dolphin Resort
- Westgate Smokehouse Grill
A Taste of Compassion Entertainment
In addition to the great food at A Taste of Compassion, there will also be street performers and musicians on hand entertaining guests with their musical and artistic performances including a stilt walker, a living statue, music by Nancy & Randy Blue on Violin & Flute that will be performing throughout the areas of the event, and violinist Hector Aguilar performing in the event center.
Childcare is available for children under 5 years of age.
A Taste of Compassion Auction
For additional fundraising, there is an online auction being held that features a pair of 7 night Caribbean stays in Antigua, a 7 night stay in Barbados and another in St. Lucia. Locally there is a Rosen Shingle Creek Resort & Golf Club Package and a Water Park Pool Party at CoCo Key Water Resort, theme park tickets, and more. Click here to see all of the items up for auction and to place your bids.
A Taste of Compassion Ministries
The two ministries to benefit from A Taste of Compassion are the Central Care Mission and Compassion Corner in Downtown Orlando:
Central Care Mission
Central Care Mission is a men’s long-term residential facility designed to help transform their lives by addressing drug, alcohol and destructive lifestyle abuse. Central Care Mission seeks to help the whole person – spiritually, emotionally, educationally and vocationally by equipping men with life skills that is necessary to gain a re-entry into society with appropriate skills, a sense of self worth,and qualifications for employment and independent living. By transforming “the man”, Central Care Mission transforms the family which then transforms the community.
Compassion Corner
Compassion Corner is an urban outreach ministry of First Presbyterian Church of Orlando that seeks to provide a place of welcome to those who are all too often unwelcome, introducing the homeless of Orlando to the love of Jesus Christ. Through one-on-one evangelism, group Bible study, Christian videos and friendship, the focus is to introduce Christ and teach the Word of God.
Some of the ministries of Compassion Corner involve one-on-one discipleship where various leaders take one homeless person at a time and work with them on a personal basis to assist with housing, job training, and spiritual growth. The Good News Breakfast is held every Sunday morning at 6am at First Presbyterian Church of Orlando where an average of 250 homeless are fed. The men of the Central Care Mission, many of whom are just off the streets, serve the breakfast following a time of worship and a sermon. All are welcome to come eat as well as come serve. Compassion Corner also provides a place of rest for the homeless upon their death and cremation at the Columbarium located at the corner of Edington Way and Jackson Street. The church provides pastoral care, the sacraments, and funeral service free of charge to friends of the Compassion Corner who have passed from this age to the next.
A Taste of Compassion Tickets
Individual tickets for the 2012 event were $75 with corporate sponsorship’s available. Click here for more information about A Taste of Compassion and to purchase tickets.
2013 Taste of Compassion Flyer
A Taste of Compassion Video 2013
A Taste of Compassion Street Party 2012
First Presbyterian Church of Orlando Map