Our appreciation for veterans and their service to our country is never-ending, but it’s especially prominent during November — also known as Veterans & Military Families Month. This month, while we’re taking time to appreciate those who served in the military and their families, the chefs at Universal CityWalk are serving up tastes as a tribute to our troops.
Six venues. Six offerings. One month to try them all while paying respects to the people who ensure we can make it happen. Keep reading to see what’s on the menu across Universal CityWalk this November!
The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen Honors the U.S. Navy
Nothing hits the spot quite as well as a fresh, hot-cooked meal does, which is exactly what The Toothsome Chocolate Emporium & Savory Feast Kitchen is bringing to the table this Veterans & Military Families Month. Representing the U.S. Navy comes the Full Sail Chicken a la King, a hearty dish made with airline chicken breast, egg noodles and creamy velouté garnished with chives and served with a side of roasted vegetables.
The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar Honors the U.S. Air Force
Burgers are intrinsically American, and they don’t get any better than those at The Cowfish Sushi Burger Bar. This Veterans & Military Families Month, sink your teeth into this ever-savory handheld: the Jalapeño Pepperjack Carrier. Representing the U.S. Air Force, this dish is packed with two wagyu beef patties dressed with heirloom tomatoes, Bibb lettuce, sherry pickled onions and tangy Aleppo aioli stuffed between two fluffy brioche buns.
Cowfish Chef Dania Alvarez-King says she chose a classic, American burger as a familiar favorite to honor and celebrate members of the U.S. Military and their families this month. Feeling like a scientist in a lab, Chef Dania tinkered with a variety of spices to find the perfect blend that would undoubtedly make mouths water — and trust me when I say, “Mission accomplished.”
NBC Sports Grill & Brew Honors the U.S. Marines
NBC Sports Grill & Brew Chef Robert Hainer really took a deep dive into the minds of the U.S. Marines when he developed the Smoked Beef Brisket Bites for Veterans & Military Families Month. Made with a spicy heirloom tomato jam, grilled broccolini, smoked mashed potatoes and Carolina gold barbecue sauce, this dish means more than just a way to satisfy a craving.
“We looked at it from a perspective of, ‘What do our soldiers eat?’ They traditionally eat MREs — Meals Ready to Eat — and it usually consists of a protein to start,” Chef Robert says. “So, I wanted to take a really popular MRE, which is like a barbecue brisket version, but I wanted to juice it up, you know, elevate it a little bit.”
And elevate he did!
“We took our traditional smoked brisket here, we’re using the burnt ends, we’re tossing it in a really nice sweet, savory tomato jam, topping it with that Carolina gold barbecue sauce, a nice potato puree, and then a charred broccolini — giving them that MRE proposition … but elevating it to NBC and Universal standards,” Chef Robert continues.
On top of choosing ingredients that correlate with the kind of food U.S. Marines consume, Chef Robert took the extra step of finding flavors that complement each other.
“I’m a firm believer that everybody in the party should dance together, so I don’t like putting things on a plate that don’t mesh well,” Chef Robert says. “If you look at it from a flavor cohesion standpoint, the burnt end naturally has a smokiness and a sweetness to it due to the smoking process, so that’s high-fiving the tomato jam because we’re using a smoky tomato jam, and that’s going to accentuate the sweetness of the brisket and tie with that smokiness. It really creates a level of umami that’s harder to achieve without that cohesion.”
Chef Robert says that without veterans, he wouldn’t be in the position he is today. “If I didn’t have (people) that had sacrificed their lives and their dreams or pursued their dreams to defend our country, I wouldn’t have been able to go to college — I wouldn’t be able to be a chef,” he says. “I wouldn’t have that level of security and protection to live in a country free to where I could do whatever I want, so it’s very important to me. I wasn’t able to give service, but I definitely give respect to everybody that did.”
NBC Sports Grill & Brew General Manager Brendan Rice shares similar sentiments. “Our everyday goal is to put smiles on peoples’ faces, and their everyday goal is to keep that smile alive,” he says. “It’s a totally different world, and for us to be able to create a dish that says, ‘Thank you’ is really cool to see.”
Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville Honors the U.S. Army
Coming to the frontlines of Jimmy Buffett’s Margaritaville is a tantalizingly tasty plate of Frontline Chili Mac. Representing the U.S. Army, this dish overflows with rich wagyu beef chili, cavatappi pasta, shredded smoked cheddar cheese and caramelized onions.
Similarly to Chef Robert at NBC Sports Grill & Brew, Margaritaville Chef Chad Scott says he modeled this robust dish after the flavors found in traditional U.S. Army MREs. If you haven’t marked your calendars during Veterans & Military Families Month yet — make haste! Flavors this good won’t last forever!
Voodoo Doughnut Honors the U.S. Space Force
The military’s job is to protect and serve — and that includes outer space! Representing the U.S. Space Force is The Event Horizon at Voodoo Doughnut. This decadent dark chocolate cake doughnut is baked with white chocolate chips and adorned with a galaxy-swirled Neapolitan velvet top and buttercream, sugar stars, pearls and gold glitter.
Voodoo Doughnut chef assistants Lee Santiago Bermudez and Jordan Odermatt collaborated on this masterful confection together and say they really wanted to go above and beyond with this year’s creation.
“I know a lot of our doughnuts have crazy flavors, but I think this doughnut is one of the prettiest doughnuts we have ever come up with,” Lee says. “I hope the guests enjoy it. That’s my number one goal — that they enjoy what they’re eating.”
Jordan says working with Lee inspired them both to adapt an even better cosmic theme for The Event Horizon that upstages last year’s doughnut. She hopes this treat reminds guests of all the people who have dedicated their lives to researching and furthering our understanding of what exactly is out there beyond just Earth and the Milky Way Galaxy.
“The Space Force is a tough one as it hasn’t existed long, but we still want to honor those who are involved,” Jordan says. “We really want people to see this doughnut and recognize how beautiful and interesting space can be. It is the research we do now in space that leads to humanity’s future, and it’s amazing for the general public to also be invested in what our Space Force does.”
Lee says her grandfather’s military service has enabled her to develop a strong appreciation for veterans and hopes that guests enjoy The Event Horizon as much as she enjoyed making it.
Bigfire Honors All U.S. Military Branches
It’s not just the chefs at Universal CityWalk who want to honor the U.S. Military — the bartenders do, too! That’s why at Bigfire, they’re representing all branches with a Horse Soldier Bourbon Flight. This flight features a veteran-owned bourbon brand that was released to honor America’s 250th anniversary, and it’s yours to enjoy during all of Veterans & Military Families Month!
Where do you plan to celebrate Veterans & Military Families Month at Universal CityWalk? Let us know in the comments below!
Must be 21 or older with valid photo ID to purchase and consume alcoholic beverages.