I am coming down March 7-9 for a wedding at one of the Sea World hotels. It's an Indian wedding so there are lots of things going on but I hope I will have some time to head out for a bit. Any recommendations of places to get a beer (my research shows no good breweries) and unrelated a place to get good Cuban food? I know Hunahpu day is going on but there is no way I could swing that. Thanks.
There are a lot of established threads on this, most of them being people staying in the Orlando resorts area. http://www.beeradvocate.com/community/search/29294083/?q=orlando&o=date&c[title_only]=1&c[node]=17 As far as events, none really that I know of going on that week in particular in Orlando - pretty much everyone heading over to the west for Tampa Bay Beer Week. And your research is correct - Orlando's brewery scene pretty much sucks. Cuban Food, hmm. Black Bean Deli in downtown Orlando area is a good one. I don't know of any in the immediate tourist-zone that's reliable...
Redlight Redlight is a pretty good beer spot. Knightly Spirits and Total Wine should satisfy your bottle shop needs in a pinch. I've never eaten there but I hear Padrino's has good Cuban food. I have eaten in Columbia in both Tampa and St. Augustine and they have outstanding Cuban food. I think there's one in Celebration, FL which is near Orlando but again I haven't been to that location.
Columbia has very expensive and chain-y Cuban/Latin/Region-ish food, but it's tasty. Dives are usually your best bet for authentic Cuban. ;-)
I've been on the hunt for some good Mofongo in my area. I know it's mainly a Puerto Rican dish but i've yet to find a good version of it in my area up here in Jax. Have you tried Agulas in Tampa on Hillsboro? I love their Medianoche sandwich. Sooo goood.
