The Juneteenth Night Market, featuring local Black-owned businesses, artists, musicians, and special and very delicious collaborations, will be held June 19 at Smoke + Donuts (601 N. Primrose Drive, Orlando).
Juneteenth (a portmanteau of June 19) commemorates the effective end of slavery in the United States, commemorating the arrival of Union troops in the far western reaches of Confederate territory in 1865, bringing news of the Emancipation Proclamation.
“Instead of the usual Boshi Bar pop-up where we usually have record DJs spinning throughout the night, we will be hosting local Black record DJs and vocalists to help create the soundtrack for this special event,” said Ian Russell, chef and owner of Smoke + Donuts.
Naturally, the menu will be hot. But for this party, it’s literal, as Chicken Fire made a deal to feed the masses.
“The event’s Chicken Fire and Smoke and Donuts collaboration menu includes homemade buttermilk biscuits, smoked butter, blackberry compote from our partner farm Gotha Goods, pickles, maple syrup and Chicken Fire’s signature chicken tenders,” Russell said.
Old Seminole church showcases the struggles of black schoolchildren under racial segregation
“This collaboration not only highlights prominent Black-owned businesses in the Milk District, but also gives back to the community, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Oviedo Colored School History Museum.”
“We wanted to do a night market because it’s important to celebrate and include Orlando’s Black community, not just to say we’re celebrating Juneteenth,” said Smoke and Donuts head chef Ian Coleman, who joined the Michelin Guide Recommended Restaurants team in May.
“It was important to us to highlight that the Black community shows up in a variety of ways, including in Black businesses, and it is especially important for us as a company to show our support to members of our staff who belong to this community,” he said.
The event will be held on Smoke + Donuts’ patio and parking lot from 6 to 11 p.m.
Tea time on the Pacific coast
It’s a celebration of celebrations, but this is no grandma’s tea tasting.
Join GoEpicurista.com’s hometown Oregonian, Christina Thomas, on the heels of two successful wine tasting events at Good Pool Winter Park, with two more exciting events planned to celebrate her hometown’s accomplishments.
From 3pm to 5pm on June 20th and June 27th, guests can sign up for Sip + Savor samples from Smith Tea Maker, the iconic Oregon brand that pioneered American specialty tea brands, at The Lucky Goat at Celebration Place (56 Riley Road, Kissimmee).
“My first tea tasting was at Smith Tea Maker’s original tasting room in northwest Portland,” Thomas told the Orlando Sentinel. That was 10 years ago.
“I was on a mission to expand my palate and explore all things food and wine, but until that day I hadn’t really drank tea. I tasted tea the way I drink wine and talked about terroir, aroma, taste and sense of place. It was a revelation.”
From bold, energizing teas like Lord Bergamot (Smith’s version of Earl Grey) to a soothing Herbal Meadow blend with golden Egyptian chamomile, hyssop, Cape rooibos, rose petals, and linden blossoms, there’s a wide range of things she’ll be sharing with her workshop guests.
“A tea flight at Smith Tea Maker Cafe is a must when visiting Portland, which is why we had to include it as part of the Sip + Savor summer camp itinerary,” she says. “Everyone went home with their hands full of gorgeous tea boxes in jewel tones, which is why we’re excited to share a little bit of the Lucky Goat Celebration Place Cafe experience.”
The new record pop-up “Bōshi Bar” will be serving up smoked & donuts along with ramen!
This newcomer to Celebration was founded in 2010 in Tallahassee, where Luis Lopez discovered both the exceptional, small-batch roasted coffee and the exploding sense of warmth that inspired him and his wife, Jessica, to open their own shop in Celebration last March while visiting frequently for work.
“The best part is slowly becoming part of this amazing community,” he says, and these owners hope that programs such as the Sip + Savor series, upcoming World Cup meetups, book clubs, and craft events will allow even more people to experience their space.
It was a natural choice, Thomas said, since the company is one of the few retailers in the Orlando area that carries Smith Tea Maker products.
While Thomas is a big supporter of Oregon, he’s also a local champion, so in addition to showcasing this still-new venue, guests will also enjoy sweets spun in Orlando from Orlando Scone Co. and Chiffon Culture Bakery in Winter Springs as part of the Sip + Savor tea experience.
Tickets are $30 and include event-exclusive Orlando Scone Company scones paired with three signature Smith Tea Maker blends, Oregon specialty jams and preserves, and Chiffon Culture croissant options. For more information, visit bit.ly/sipsavororegontea.
Find me on Facebook, TikTok, Twitter, Instagram @amydroo or the OSFoodie Instagram account @orlando.foodie. Email: amthompson@orlandosentinel.com, and for more foodie fun, join our Let’s Eat, Orlando Facebook group.
