Aloha Friday at Loews Royal Pacific Resort set for Friday, September 3

Fresh and flavorful food made with locally-grown ingredients is on the menu for the next 'Aloha Friday' event at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando. Set for Friday, September 3 from 6:30 - 8:30 pm, the event takes its name from the Hawaiian tradition of slowing down, wrapping up the work week and beginning the weekend by gathering with friends.



The chefs at Loews Royal Pacific Resort at Universal Orlando also use the event as a way to showcase their partnership with Slow Food Orlando, by using many ingredients that are grown and sourced locally through farmers and purveyors that are part of the company's Adopt-a-Farmer program. Culinarians from Emeril's Tchoup Chop also serve up special items from the celebrity chef's on-site restaurant. The Slow Food movement is a way of living and a way of eating that links the pleasure of food with a commitment to the community and the environment. Its goal is to build awareness of local food and farmers and to promote re-connection with family and friends.



"Our partnerships with local and regional farmers and purveyors have expanded this year, as we continue to focus on responsibly grown, carefully crafted and deliciously healthy products," says Executive Chef Nando Belmonte.



'Aloha Friday' offers the opportunity for people to sample food dishes featuring locally-grown ingredients and meet some of the people who grow, raise, farm or catch those products. The menu will feature:

• Mixed organic baby greens from Hearts of Christmas Farms in Christmas, FL
• Barolo braised grass fed beef with sweet grass dairy goat cheese polenta from Deep Creek Livestock in DeLand, FL
• Port Canaveral Ruby Red Shrimp from Wild Ocean Seafood Market in Port Canaveral, FL
• Poblano pulled pork with garlic cilantro flatbread from Palmetto Creek Farms in Avon Park, FL
• Caramelized peach strudel with organic Florida blueberry cloufitis from Hearts of Christmas Farms in Christmas, FL and Lake Meadow Naturals in Ocoee, FL

'Aloha Friday' also features live entertainment by local band Simulcast, along with tropical drinks, beer and wine. Tickets for the event are $35 in advance on-line or $45 at the door or $50 in advance for VIP tickets, which includes a private pre-reception, early entry to the event and reserved seating. For tickets, log onto: LoewsHotels.Tix.com.



The 1,000-room Loews Royal Pacific Resort is the third on-site Loews Hotel at Universal Orlando. It has been honored by Travel & Leisure Family as one of the top family-friendly resorts in the country and also has been named among the best meeting facilities in the U.S. by Successful Meetings and Meetings & Conventions magazine. The world-class accommodations at Universal Orlando Resort also include the rock 'n' roll themed Hard Rock Hotel and the Italian-themed Loews Portofino Bay Hotel. All three on-site hotels are connected to each other and to Universal Studios, Islands of Adventure and CityWalk by a chain of scenic waterways.