By Peter Covino
Entertainment Editor

Grab your knife and fork and get ready to dine around the world as the Rosen Centre once again presents its Vine & Dine series.

The annual event features delicacies from around the world, including chocolate decadence, a gourmet campfire cook out, spooky Halloween fare and some rockin’ pairings of food and wine.

Vine & Dine events begin at 7 p.m. and each event starts with a reception that features a welcome wine or unique cocktail. The group then adjourns to Everglades restaurant for the main event.

The restaurant is known for its comfortable setting that evokes the natural beauty of the Florida Everglades.

Each dining event includes a five-course gourmet dinner highlighted by fresh, seasonal ingredients and wines expertly selected to complement the cuisine.

There is nothing rushed about this dining experience. Guests can enjoy casual conversation about wines with an experienced wine maker or  sommelier chosen for each event. Guests can also enter to win  raffle prizes, such as

bottles of wine, wine-related items or hotel stays.

This is an intimate experience. No more than 40 guests attend each dining event.  

The 2011 five-event series offers a variety of creative themes, as well as a wide range of fine food and exclusive wines designed to please every palate.

The series kicked off with “Around the World in 180 Minutes” in January. Next up  is the “Chocoholics Convention” on Friday, March 25, at 7 p.m.

And yes, chocolate is on every item on the menu. Participating chocoholics will be welcomed to the Everglades restaurant with a glass of sparkling wine. It will be anaromantic evening of sweet delights beginning with a watermelon and goat cheese salad, dressed with bittersweet chocolate and balsamic Vinaigrette.  

Next, diners will enjoy a second course of seared cocoa dusted scallops with vanilla beurre blanc. To cleanse the palate, an “Intermezzo” of chocolate lavender sorbet follows. Chocolate lovers will be eager to grab a knife and fork for the entrée, Kona coffee-crusted filet mignon with chocolate stout sauce and savory fig compote. The chocolate-covered evening is completed with dessert — Chocolate Decadence Torte, followed by a final course of Godiva hot chocolate served with a milk chocolate-dipped biscotti.   Each course will be paired with a wine as delectable as the chocolate-themed menu.

The remaining schedule of the 2011 “Vine & Dine” series includes:

Friday, May 20 - “Rock & Roll Hall of Fame” -  A backstage pass to dinner inspired by rock legends.

Friday, July 22 - “All American Campfire” - Summertime comfort food goes gourmet.

Friday, October 28 - “Vine & Dine Spooktacular” - A costume party with a surprise menu (The Trick) and the best wines from the cellar (The Treats) for $75 per person.

The cost of each Vine & Dine dinner is $65 per person, plus tax and gratuity, with the exception of the Halloween “Spooktacular,” which is $75 per person, plus tax and gratuity. Diners may make their evenings even more special by spending the night in a deluxe guest room for the special rate of $89 plus tax. Valet parking is complimentary.  

Vine & Dine dinners can be customized for private group events. The Everglades restaurant’s extensive wine list, which features an array of wines from all regions, winemaking styles and price points, allows the culinary team to work with event and meeting planners to arrange unique experiences within any budget. The restaurant also offers an extensive selection of organic wines from wineries that share the hotel’s passion for protecting the environment and creating quality products in a sustainable manner.

For Vine & Dine reservations and more details, call 407-996-8560. For more information, visit www.evergladesrestaurant.com or www.rosencentre.com