There are many ways to show appreciation, and when Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month rolls around, Universal CityWalk takes the culinary route. Our talented food and beverage teams really put in the work last year, which you can read more about in my article here, and they’re back at it again this year with a handful of military-themed dishes and drinks to choose from at your favorite venues.
Not only are we eating good, but we’re also honoring some of the Universal Orlando food and beverage Team Members who are veterans or have military history in their families. Read on as I detail one of the tastiest ways Universal Orlando Resort pays tribute to our country’s military veterans and their families.
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar Honors the Marine Corps
If there’s any spot in Universal CityWalk that knows a thing or two about a good handheld, it’s The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar, and what better time to indulge than during Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month?
Named for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot, the Parris Island Pork Chop Sandwich at Cowfish takes a tender, buttermilk brined pork chop and tops it with melty low country pimento cheese, mustard aioli, lettuce, and pickles between two grilled slices of Texas toast.
NBC Sports Grill & Brew Honors the U.S. Army
Alpha. Bravo. Chili. Wait — I don’t think that’s how the military phonetic alphabet goes, but that does sound a lot like the Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month offering at NBC Sports Grill & Brew. Take a bite of the Chili Bravo, a savory masterpiece of a kaiser roll with two beef smashed patties topped with chili, American cheese, sweet onions, coleslaw, and mustard.
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Honors the U.S. Air Force
Location, location, location! That’s what really comes into play with the San Antonio Lackland Air Chicken Wrap at Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville. Texas food is known for being heavily influenced by Mexican culture, but the city of San Antonio is one place influenced like no other — and it’s also conveniently home to the Lackland Air Force Base this wrap is named for!
Wrapped neatly inside a flour tortilla comes tangy chipotle chicken, black beans, flamed corn, scallions, roasted bell peppers, tortilla strips, and avocado-cilantro ranch for a whirlwind of flavors you need in your life.
Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches Honors the U.S. Navy
U.S. Navy veterans and Virginians alike know Naval Station Norfolk well, and Bread Box Handcrafted Sandwiches pays tribute with the ever-savory Norfolk Submarine. This sub sandwich is made with shaved Virginia ham, Swiss cheese, coleslaw, and cherry peppers on a soft, toasted hoagie roll with a roasted garlic and poppyseed spread.
VIVO Italian Kitchen Honors the U.S. Coast Guard
What’s sweeter than celebrating Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month? Not much, but I’d argue the Blueberry Ricotta Cannoli at VIVO Italian Kitchen is right up there. Recognizing the U.S. Coast Guard, this frozen delight features a mixed berry blueberry ricotta filling, blueberry compote and sweet vanilla bean gelato, and is topped with a lemon thyme shortbread crumble to bring it all together.
VIVO chef Isabel Thompson looked to the state of New Jersey and its love of blueberry cobbler when trying to find a dish that would best represent the Coast Guard. “We wanted to take blueberry cobbler and kind of play with that, but it’s not incredibly Italian, so we thought we could turn it into our version of it, and that’s where the cannoli came from,” Chef Isabel says.
More than just a nod to an influential Coast Guard location, the Blueberry Ricotta Cannoli is very personal to Chef Isabel. “My grandfather — that’s his favorite dessert — and he also served in the Coast Guard,” she says. “So, I took this assignment and really ran with it because he passed a few years ago, and it felt like a really lovely way to tribute him as well.”
Voodoo Doughnut Honors the U.S. Space Force
Residing in the Milky Way galaxy certainly has its benefits — the biggest one being that we get to enjoy a sweet doughnut drifting in orbit at Voodoo Doughnut. Paying tribute to the U.S. Space Force, the Caramel Drift Ring is a tasty, sugary treat made with caramel fudge, stuffed with a rich nougat filling, and sporting a velvet top with a fun astronaut design and moon rocks.
Honoring the U.S. Military Branches with Specialty Drinks
We’ve already covered where and what to eat for the occasion, but what about drinks? Worry not, because four of our vibrant CityWalk venues have handcrafted a bevy of beverages to enjoy all Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month long.
The roaring waters of the ocean have nothing on The Red White and Buoy at Shoreline and Dockside, two outdoor bars lining CityWalk’s waterway near the concert stage seating. This fizzy mocktail is made with lemon-lime soda and blue curaçao while topped with fruity strawberry boba.
Bigfire has something extra tasty to sip on in store, and you desperately need it in your life. Honoring the U.S. Air Force, the Air Support Fizz is a flavorful mocktail made with pineapple and lime juices, blue curaçao, ginger beer, and a lime garnish. Think non-alcoholic mule — but make it tropical!
U.S. Army veterans can attest to needing A Little R&R — and I don’t just mean rest and relaxation. Stop by VIVO Italian Kitchen this month for a taste of A Little R&R, a refreshing blend of pineapple juice, huckleberry syrup, and club soda topped with tangy orange boba.
Surrounding the water cooler in the U.S. Marines, you may hear a lot of scuttlebutt, but at NBC Sports Grill & Brew in CityWalk, you may be drinking it. Made with pineapple and grapefruit juices, strawberry syrup, and club soda topped with strawberry boba, the Strawberry Scuttlebutt is the perfect mocktail to accompany you during your celebration of Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month.
These mocktails aren’t just fruity mixtures with punny names to boot — their components had some colorful thought put into them by Universal Orlando’s beverage coordinator, Katelyn Haber. “I based all of these cocktail mocktails on the colors of each division,” she says. American flag staples red, white, and blue represent the Coast Guard, befitting The Red White and Buoy perfectly, while the Air Force’s ultramarine blue and gold match the hue of the Air Support Fizz.
The Army is known for its earth toned camouflages, and you’ll find the color of A Little R&R following suit. You also can’t miss the colors of the Strawberry Scuttlebutt closely resembling the scarlet and gold found in the Marines’ flag. With creativity like this, you can carry your drinks with pride and toast to veterans and military families all month long!
What do you plan to eat and drink at Universal CityWalk this Veterans and Military Families Appreciation Month? 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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