I love being a woman, but I especially love being one when March rolls around. Why, you ask? Because it’s the best — but certainly not the only — time of year to uplift and celebrate women for all that they do. March is Women’s History Month, or better known as Women’s Herstory Month at Universal Orlando Resort, and we’re celebrating with an array of specialty food and beverage items handcrafted and inspired by women that are yours to enjoy all month long!
Braised Chicken Rasta Pasta at Mythos Restaurant
When venturing around The Lost Continent in Universal Islands of Adventure, you’ll typically encounter tastes of the Mediterranean, especially at Mythos Restaurant. However, wandering inside during Women’s Herstory Month may lead you to flavors of the Caribbean — but who’s complaining?
Mythos chef assistants Jayann Johnson-Barrett and Claudette Cooper put their minds and their shared experiences from being raised in Jamaica together to craft the savory Braised Chicken Rasta Pasta for Women’s Herstory Month. “Growing up in Jamaica, I was a picky eater, so my grandma tried to make food I’d be interested in,” Chef Jayann says. “She would come up with creative ways to get me to eat food as a child.”
This included sneaking hearty vegetables like peppers — an ingredient some kids tend to shy away from — into traditional rice and pasta dishes. Fast forward to the present in Mythos’ kitchen, Chef Jayann did the same in her own dish — but this time, intentionally. She’s joined with help from her partner-in-crime, Chef Claudette, whose childhood also played a pivotal role in the creation of this dish.
“I grew up mostly with my father, and he likes to cook,” Chef Claudette says. “He likes to make jerk chicken, but I like pasta, so he found a creative way to make it so that I could enjoy it. He always called it a combination of us.”
Now serving as a combination of these two talented female chefs, this Braised Chicken Rasta Pasta is made with slow-simmered Jamaican spiced chicken, creamy jerk alfredo, tender penne pasta, bell peppers, green onions, and topped with crispy seasoned plantain ribbons.
Chef Claudette didn’t grow up picturing a future in the culinary industry, but getting to cook alongside her father certainly piqued her interest and helped shape her career journey. Now, she’s thrilled to share that experience with guests from all over through this dish.
“I hope guests experience a different feeling than when they’re eating Mediterranean,” Chef Claudette says. “I want them to feel like they’ve come to Jamaica when they’re eating here.”
Chef Jayann shares similar sentiments. “I want them to feel a little island love while being here in the U.S.,” she says. “It’s something from our culture, so it’s a little piece of our upbringing in a dish.”
HERstory Highball at The Oak & Star Tavern and The Plastered Owl
The Oak & Star Tavern and The Plastered Owl in Celestial Park in Universal Epic Universe are no strangers to a highball cocktail — it’s actually one of their specialties! This Women’s Herstory Month, get a taste of the HERstory Highball, a cocktail specially concocted by our resident beverage expert, Katelyn Haber.
As Universal Orlando’s beverage coordinator, Katelyn was tasked with bringing these venues a flavor that is sure to stand out for its first Women’s Herstory Month. She opted to use a gin whose flavor profile was pioneered and redefined by a female distiller as a way to pay tribute to the women in the beverage industry. Accompanying this light gin are tangy orange bitters, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup, soda, and a cherry and lemon wheel garnish.
“I really want to take advantage of all the opportunities before me … but I also want to have fun!” Katelyn says. “So, it’s awesome getting to bring a little flair to the beverage team.”
Pigeon Peas Risotto & Women are Innovators at The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen
In 2025, The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen in Universal CityWalk blew Women’s Herstory Month out of the water with its daring Women are Innovators cocktail, which you can read more about here. Toothsome bartender Grace Dudley’s creation makes a striking comeback this year and is made with rum, lime juice, blueberry concentrate, simple syrup, and sweet prosecco.
Joining this fruity cocktail is a tasty Pigeon Peas Risotto. Made with annatto oil, pulled braised pork, pickled onions, Parmesan cheese, breadfruit “tostones,” fried egg, and garnished with cilantro sprouts, this dish is sure to empower all who savor its bite.
Lavender Mint Margarita at Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food
Those who made their rounds in Universal CityWalk last year are sure to recognize the ever-flavorful Lavender Mint Margarita from Antojitos Authentic Mexican Food. Created by an award-winning bartender and replicated by the bartending staff at Antojitos, this cocktail is mixed with blanco tequila, lime juice, lavender and simple syrups, and topped with a fresh mint garnish.
Specialty Cocktail at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville
Women can do SO much — including make a good cocktail for Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville in Universal CityWalk. We can thank Margaritaville manager Grace Yacobowsky for creating the flavorful Specialty Cocktail for Women’s Herstory Month. Made with Margaritaville Spiced Rum, banana creme liqueur, lime juice, and specialty pink pineapple juice, this cocktail is a flavor sensation.
Strawberry & Rhubarb Panna Cotta at VIVO Italian Kitchen
If you’ve been to VIVO Italian Kitchen in Universal CityWalk, there’s a high chance you’ve tasted one of its panna cottas — but not this one (yet). This panna cotta is unlike any VIVO has seen before, and we have VIVO sous chef Isabel Thompson to thank for that.
Inspired by Chef Isabel’s family’s northeastern roots, the Strawberry & Rhubarb Panna Cotta is made with layered vanilla and strawberry gelatin mixed with heavy cream, lemon curd, and lemon shortbread crumble. “Strawberries and rhubarb have always kind of gone together for me, and I think that the vanilla base complements it really well, but it did need something tart, so there’s going to be some lemon curd in it as well,” Chef Isabel says.
Chef Isabel originally went to culinary school specializing in making pastries, so going for a panna cotta felt very familiar to her — it was actually one of the first dishes she made for her family while she was in school! Although pastry was her first avenue, Chef Isabel says she feels most women are always expected to take the pastry route due to the competitive nature of the culinary industry.
“I like it, but ultimately, it’s not the career path I chose,” Chef Isabel says. “But everybody just assumed, ‘Oh, you’re a girl. You’re going to be in pastry.’ So, breaking away from that was really hard.”
Although pastry was a difficult path to stray away from, Chef Isabel persevered and pursued her passions, eventually becoming a leader among her culinary peers. “There’s a little bit of pressure; it’s an honor, but it’s a little bit stressful because you want to be a good example,” she says.
“The fact that Universal is recognizing Women’s (Herstory) Month in general is very cool, and it’s showing our Team Members that there’s an option — that you can do it — and that you just have to work really hard. It doesn’t matter what your gender is,” Chef Isabel adds.
The small, but mighty Strawberry & Rhubarb Panna Cotta means more to these VIVO chefs than you may realize. “I hope that the guests who see it feel proud that we are offering something like this,” Chef Alexis says. “It might seem so minimal to some people — they might not even realize how impactful it is — but for me, this month specifically … it really means so much. Having this whole month and this dish represent us and reminding people that it is Women’s (Herstory) Month — I think that’s a huge win for VIVO and the company.”
What will you have to celebrate Women’s Herstory Month at Universal Orlando Resort? Tell us in the comments below!
Must be 21 or older with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.
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