Get your copy of the first-ever destination cookbook from Orlando.

Updated Sept. 24, 2026

Between celebrity chefs, MICHELIN Guide honors, local James Beard Award nominees and ever-increasing attention from serious foodies, Orlando’s culinary star has never been brighter. And now, you can create some of your favorite Orlando recipes at home with our first-ever destination cookbook, a vibrant collection of recipes and stories that showcase the flavors, neighborhoods and culinary talent of Central Florida.

Discover: Local Food & Dining

Authored by award-winning writer Pam Brandon, Orlando’s Kitchens: Recipes and Stories From Our Neighborhoods celebrates our diverse food scene with more than 60 recipes contributed by local favorites, MICHELIN-recognized chefs and celebrity names, plus stories from Orlando’s culinary community.

Read on to learn more about this exciting new cookbook, which is available for purchase now in store and online from the Discover Downtown™ Info Center in City District.

Cover image, from left: Author Pam Brandon, Visit Orlando President & CEO Casandra Matej, Chef Wendy Lopez (Reyes Mezcaleria), and Chef Lordfer Lalicon (Kaya). All images taken at The Kitchen House.

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Inside ‘Orlando’s Kitchens’

“This project is a true celebration of Orlando’s culinary identity,” said Casandra Matej, president and CEO of Visit Orlando. “For over 20 years, we’ve worked to raise awareness of our local food community on a global stage, from MICHELIN recognition to James Beard Awards and bringing Netflix’s Somebody Feed Phil to Orlando. Now with this cookbook, we’re able to highlight the neighborhoods and chefs that make our city unbelievably real, from global flavors in Mills 50 and iconic eateries on I-Drive, to Southern staples, artisan bakers, urban farms and more. It’s a reflection of how diverse, creative and welcoming Orlando’s culinary story truly is.”

Discover: ‘Somebody Feed Phil’ in Orlando

Brandon — who has written more than two dozen Disney cookbooks and two Florida cookbooks — uses Orlando’s Kitchens to highlight more than 100 dining and culinary experiences that tell Orlando’s story.

Discover: MICHELIN Guide Dining

“This book is a joyful coming together of some of Orlando’s best restaurants, artisans and farmers, sharing their different experiences through special recipes like Abuela’s Salsa from Tamale Co., porchetta the way his dad taught Chef Yamuel Bigio at Crocante, and a cherished cookie recipe from the 1950s from Nikki’s Place,” said Brandon. “Orlando’s culinary scene is a mosaic of experiences that makes our city so great, and I continue to be inspired every day by this place.”

The cookbook is arranged by districts with maps created by a local artist, Paige Fischer, to guide you through the neighborhoods of Orlando. The cover features Chef Wendy Lopez of Reyes Mezcaleria and Chef Lordfer Lalicon of the MICHELIN Recommended Kaya, plus dishes from Bull & Bear.

Discover: Orlando’s Top Chefs

Priced at $31.95, Orlando’s Kitchens is available now from the Discover Downtown™ Info Center — both in store and online. Get your copy today!

Orlando’s Kitchens FAQ

What is Orlando’s Kitchens: Recipes and Stories From Our Neighborhoods?

Orlando’s Kitchens: Recipes and Stories From Our Neighborhoods is Orlando’s first destination cookbook, featuring recipes and stories that showcase the flavors, neighborhoods and culinary talent of Central Florida.

How many recipes are in Orlando’s Kitchens?

Orlando’s Kitchens features more than 60 recipes contributed by local favorites, MICHELIN-recognized chefs and celebrity names, along with stories from Orlando’s culinary community.

Who wrote the Orlando’s Kitchens cookbook?

Award-winning writer Pam Brandon authored Orlando’s Kitchens. She has also written more than two dozen Disney cookbooks and two Florida cookbooks.

What restaurants and chefs are featured in Orlando’s Kitchens?

The cookbook highlights more than 100 dining and culinary experiences throughout Orlando. Featured contributors include Wendy Lopez of Reyes Mezcaleria, Lordfer Lalicon of MICHELIN Recommended Kaya and Yamuel Bigio of Crocante, among others.

Are MICHELIN-recognized Orlando restaurants featured in the cookbook?

Yes. MICHELIN-recognized chefs and restaurants are part of Orlando’s Kitchens, including Lordfer Lalicon of MICHELIN Recommended Kaya and Wendy Lopez of the MICHELIN Recommended Sparrow, who are also featured on the cookbook’s cover.

What kinds of recipes are in Orlando’s Kitchens?

Recipes reflect the diversity of Orlando’s culinary community and include dishes with deep personal and cultural connections. Examples include Abuela’s Salsa from Tamale Co., porchetta inspired by a recipe Yamuel Bigio of Crocante learned from his father, and a cherished 1950s cookie recipe from Nikki’s Place.

Does Orlando’s Kitchens feature more than just restaurant recipes?

Yes. The cookbook celebrates restaurants as well as artisans and farmers, reflecting a culinary scene that includes global flavors, Southern staples, artisan bakers and urban farms.

Does the Orlando cookbook feature different neighborhoods?

Yes. Orlando’s Kitchens is organized by districts and includes maps created by local artist Paige Fischer to guide readers through Orlando’s neighborhoods.

What Orlando dining districts are represented in Orlando’s Kitchens?

The cookbook showcases culinary experiences throughout Orlando, including global flavors in Mills 50, iconic restaurants along International Drive and food traditions found across the destination’s neighborhoods.

Who is featured on the cover of Orlando’s Kitchens?

The cover features Wendy Lopez of Reyes Mezcaleria and the MICHELIN Recommended Sparrow and Lordfer Lalicon of MICHELIN Recommended Kaya, along with dishes from Bull & Bear.

Where can I buy the Orlando’s Kitchens cookbook?

Orlando’s Kitchens is available in store and online from the Discover Downtown™ Info Center in downtown Orlando’s City District.

How much does the Orlando’s Kitchens cookbook cost?

Orlando’s Kitchens: Recipes and Stories From Our Neighborhoods is priced at $31.95 through the Discover Downtown Info Center.

What makes Orlando’s food scene unique?

Orlando’s culinary scene brings together global flavors, neighborhood restaurants, Southern staples, artisan bakers, urban farms and award-winning culinary talent. Local dining has also earned recognition from the MICHELIN Guide and James Beard Awards.

Is Orlando’s Kitchens a good souvenir or gift from Orlando?

For food lovers, Orlando’s Kitchens offers a way to bring home recipes and stories connected to Central Florida’s chefs, restaurants, artisans, farmers and neighborhoods, while recreating some Orlando flavors at home.

FAQs are based on this blog’s content, created in partnership with Microsoft Copilot, and edited by the real humans at Visit Orlando.

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