Eating the same food over and over again can get boring really fast — no matter how good it is. The expert chefs at Universal Orlando Resort know this, and that’s why they’re always looking for ways to grow the menus at each of our tasty restaurants. Lately, the chefs’ attention has turned to Confisco Grille in Universal Islands of Adventure, which has been serving up phenomenal flavors to hungry theme-park-goers from around the globe since 1999.
There are some new tastes in town — three of them, to be exact — and they’re changing the food game at Confisco Grille. I’m starting to consider myself something of an expert foodie when it comes to dining at Universal, so trust me when I say you’re not going to want to miss out on giving these dishes a taste.
Quesabirria
You love it in Mexico, and you’ll love it even more at Confisco Grille. I’m talking about this spot’s newest menu item, Quesabirria. Made with birria beef that’s slow-cooked for three to four hours stuffed inside warm flour tortillas, Quesabirria is dressed in Menonita cheese, diced onions and chopped cilantro while served with birria consommé and guacamole. I’m not even remotely exaggerating when I say this is my favorite thing to eat!
Confisco Grille Chef Antwan Dickerson says he wanted to develop a flavor profile that sets their Quesabirria apart from others’. In the consommé, you’ll taste a mix of guajillo and ancho chile peppers blended with cumin, cayenne, cinnamon, salt and pepper — plus a secret ingredient to really make it pop! “We are taking our time, actually putting that love and energy into it, and you taste it every time you taste our birria,” Chef Antwan says.
Birria Burger
Birria… On a burger… Count me all the way in! The Birria Burger is Confisco Grille’s most vibrant addition to its menu; tastes from different cultures all converge in this one dish. Take a classic American beef patty and top it with slow-cooked birria beef, spicy salsa verde, creamy Menonita cheese and authentic Mexican slaw on a toasted brioche bun, and you’ve got yourself a recipe for deliciousness. Confisco Grille Chef Jess Maldonado is the mastermind behind the Birria Burger and says that she was looking for something hearty and spicy to bring to this spot’s menu. With birria rising in dining trends, she landed on this sensational new dish.
“We were trying to figure out what kind of burger we were going to make because at the same time, we’re having different types of dishes and different types of items on the menu,” Chef Jess says. “So I say, ‘Why don’t we make a birria burger?’ That’s how everything started.”
Chef Jess adds that she’s a big fan of bold flavors, especially within Mexican food, which she says she enjoys on the daily. “I always enjoy that cuisine, so why not bring it here?” she says. “We have a lot of Asian, a lot of American — a lot of different items, and we don’t have something like that in this venue. So, that was me connecting what I love and what I eat on a daily basis thinking maybe our guests will do the same.” Chef Antwan himself, who also played a role in making the Birria Burger, says this dish is “hands down” his favorite, and as a lover of all things burger and birria, I’m right behind him.
Santa Fe Salad
The new Santa Fe Salad at Confisco might save your life. Frequenters of this dining spot likely remember the fan-favored Southwest Salad and find themselves reminiscing about the taste of that tangy Chipotle ranch dressing. Well, those fans are in luck as it has found its new home on the Santa Fe Salad. Fresh Romaine lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, red onions, fire-roasted corn, crunchy tortilla strips, queso fresco and your choice of grilled chicken, shrimp or salmon drizzled in Chipotle ranch dressing sounds like a match made in salad heaven.
BONUS: Seasonal Favorites
Did you know Confisco Grille switches up some items on its menu seasonally? If you didn’t, you do now, and if you couldn’t tell by the increasingly cold outdoor temperatures, it’s winter time! This winter, Confisco is highlighting two flavorful delights that you must get your hands on before spring comes around.
Dueling Hummus
This is the kind of hummus worth fighting for. Named for the old, but gold, Islands of Adventure ride Dueling Dragons comes Confisco’s Dueling Hummus, a dish that pits two hummus flavors against each other in a battle of savory goodness. For winter, Confisco chefs have paired roasted pumpkin and lemon hummus together seasoned with paprika and served with pomegranate and sesame seeds, toasted pepitas and kalamata olives with delicious grilled pita to enjoy it with.
Braised Short Rib
If the TV world is any indicator, the most appetizing of dishes — such as a braised short rib — can come from even the most maddening of kitchen environments. Chef Antwan was inspired by a certain culinary-cult-classic TV show, which led him to craft a new dish to serve during the winter season at Confisco Grille. The Braised Short Rib is slow braised in a sweet cola au jus and served over roasted carrot risotto, tri-colored carrot sauté and pickled fennel.
Have you made dining plans at Confisco Grille yet? Let us know what you’re having in the comments below!
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