For “foodies’’ who have not yet experienced the abundance of eating options at Mission Resort + Club in Central Florida, then this year’s Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining provides the ideal opportunity for you to find culinary happiness.
For example, Mission Inn + Club’s La Margarita is one of the premiere destination resort’s four restaurants. It’s also a participant ting in Visit Orlando’s Magical Dining, which runs from Aug. 16 through Sept. 30. Through Visit Orlando, each participating restaurant will feature three-course, prix-fixe dinner at exceptional prices, with each meal served will support a deserving charity.
Located in Howey-in-the-Hills location, MIssion Inn + Club sits on the rolling hills of Central Florida’s Lake County, a short drive northwest of Orlando.
Mission Resort’s La Margarita, which overlooks the captivating Plaza de Las Palmas and is a haven for al fresco dining with a refined bar and a cozy patio lit by fire pits, will offering a $40 three-course menu for the Magical Dining event.
The appetizer options include Coastal Coconut Shrimp and a Lump Crab and Corn Chowder while the main course selections will include Chimichurri Bistro Grilled Filet, Macadamia Nut Encrusted Mahi Mahi and Drunken & Stuffed Chicken.
Diners with a sweet tooth will have a difficult choice to make: will it be White Chocolate Bread Pudding, Key Lime Pie or Molten Chocolate Lava Cake?
La Margarita is already known for a diverse menu which includes artisanal pizzas, exquisite prime cuts and fresh seafood, and the recent arrival at Mission Resort of a new executive chef and a food and beverage director, has led to an even wider assortment of flavors and culinary trends.
Charles Anderson brings more than 25 years of experience to the resort, while certified sommelier James Pyles, the Director of Foodd and Beverage, has an impressive track record that includes leadership roles at Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort and Maple & Ash in Chicago.
“Chef Charles’ leadership in the kitchen fosters an environment brimming with collaboration and precision, resulting in a remarkable dining experience for each guest,” said Mission Resort + Club General Manager Cindy Staley.
In Pyles, Mission Resort has a seasoned hospitality professional who helped Maple & Ash become the fourth-highest revenue-generating eatery in the United States during his time there as managing partner and general manager.
“James’ track record proves a keen ability to drive growth, further demonstrated at renowned properties like South Seas Island Resort and The Don CeSar,” Staley said.
Apart from La Margarita, Anderson and Pyles each have three other restaurants under their watch at Mission Resort.
El Conquistador specializes in elegant cuisine in a refined atmosphere while Nicker’s, located in the clubhouse, serves lunch, dinner and a Saturday Night Prime Rib and Seafood Buffet in a more casual environment. La Hacienda, with its views of the golf course and the Spanish colonial plaza, offers the perfect backdrop for breakfast, lunch and a lavish Sunday Champagne Brunch.
Whether guests desire a relaxed dining atmosphere or a more formal candlelit experience, Mission Resort has you covered with superb service, innovative entrees and plentiful portions in restaurant.
The resortalso is home to two outstanding golf courses. The El Campeón (The Champion) layout, built in 1917 by George O’Neil, is one of the older courses in the South, with a classic design featuring unusually sharp elevation changes in the typically flat central Florida terrain. It has played host to multiple high school, college and state professional tournaments.
In contrast, Las Colinas (The Hills) was created in 1992 by former PGA Tour winner Gary Koch. It lives up to its name with wide fairways rolling over gentle rises.
Both courses feature undulating greens surrounded by tropical vegetation and incorporate large water hazards on many holes.
The El Campeón layout hosted an LPGA Epson Tour Championship from 2020-2023 and later this year, from December 9-12, the course will be the venue for the PGA Head Professional Championship of Canada presented by Callaway Golf, which returns to Florida for the first time since 2017.
If golf is not your ‘thing’, there is no shortage of diversions to keep you busy or to stay ultra-relaxed while you visit Mission Resort + Club.
Other recreational amenities include tennis, pickleball, beach tennis, jogging and cycling trails, volleyball courts, an outdoor pool, a spa, a fitness center and a marina offering bass boats and pontoons for eco-touring.
Mission Resort + Club features distinct Spanish Colonial architecture and offers 176 hotel guest rooms, 131 deluxe rooms, 38 club suites, four one-bedroom suites, two two-bedroom suites and one penthouse suite with three bedrooms.
Photos Courtesy of Mission Inn + Club