News and Events

• 2014 Year in Review
  Last year saw a tremendous flurry of positive energy and activity and we are proud to have been as actively engaged in as many aspects of hospitality as we were. Additionally, we are honoured to have been recognized by so many illustrious organizations. Here is our 2014 Year in Review.

• CHEF PULAPAKA'S BOOK
  Chef Pulapaka's book "Dreaming in Spice" is in print. Containing over 100 recipes with wine pairings by Jenneffer Pulapaka, and indepth thoughts about food and wine. Book Signing and Launch Party at The Elusive Grape on Thursday, January 29th. Every book will be numbered and signed. Teh event is sold out. Cress will be closed on that day.

• 6th Anniversary Celebration & Fundraiser
  FRIDAY, AUGUST 29th, 6:30 pm
  We invite you to attend a multi-course food and wine dinner with hors d'oeuvres prepared by some of Central Florida's most exciting young chefs. We will also be joined in the kitchen by local food supply artisans. A portion of the proceeds will benefit our Community Project "Cookin' In a Snap". Limited Seating. Reservations and pre-purchase only. This event should sell out fast. Tickets are non-refundable, but certainly transferable. Reservations and Pre-Purchase Only.: More Information
  Buy Tickets Online

• Lesser Seafood Dinner
  TUESDAY, JULY 29th, 6:30-9:00 pm
  We are very excited to showcase the "lesser" bounty from our waters. Our special guest will include Sheila Bowman, from Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program. Hope to see you there.: Lesser Seafood Dinner (Menu and Information)
  Buy Tickets Online

• Foraging Road Trip to the James Beard House
  We are undertaking a one-of-a kind road trip to cook a very special dinner at the James Beard House. The dinner at the Beard House is on Tuesday, June 3rd. Here is a link with more information: Beard House Dinner (Menu and Information)

• 
  It's official! We are the first Florida restaurant to be a restaurant partner with Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch Program. By doing so, we are committing to continue sourcing only seafood from Environmentally Responsible Sources as defined by the Monterey Bay Aquarium®. We understand that there are other notable and valuable agencies who "police" our oceans and we also understand that no one organization can possibly know everything or be completely updated in their data. However, this is an important first step in our complete and unequivocal commitment to be as thoughtful as we can possibly be about this issue. Seafood forms the most popular items on our menus and we will continue to create tasty dishes from the best available ingredients. It is a journey we are proud of.

• Another James Beard Award Semifinalist Recognition
  Chef Pulapaka is proud to have been selected for the third time as a semi-finalist for the prestigious James Beard Foundation - Best Chef South award. Here is a link with all the semifinalists for 2014.

  Orlando Sentinel Critic's Choice Best Overall
  For the second year in a row, Cress was honoured by Heather McPherson, the Food Editor of the Orlando Sentinel as her choice for the Best Overall Restaurant in Central Florida. Congratulations to The Ravenous Pig and Luma on Park for sharing this honour. Here is a link with all the winners.

  Cress Hosts First Central Florida JBF-CAN Salon
  On January 20-21, Cress co-hosted the first ever Boot Camp and Salon by the James Beard Foundation and Chef Action Neteork at beautiful Lake Meadow Naturals farm. For the very first time, we helped convene a wide variety of influential chefs, food writers, farmers, and others to help think thourgh ways in which we can improve our food system. Go #SunshinePlate. Here are recaps of the event by Heather McPherson of the Orlando Sentinel and Scott Joseph of Scott Joseph Orlando

• Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Blue Ribbon Task Force
  Hari and Jenneffer Pulapaka are proud to serve on the national Blue Ribbon Task Force of the Monterey Bay Seafood Watch Program. Here is more about The Blue Ribbon Task Force And Its Full List of Participants

• Sunday Farm dinner at Tomazin Farms
  On Sunday, February 16th, we hosted a very special Sunday Dinner at Tomazin Farms in Samsula. Many of the ingredients were be harvested from or near the farm. This was the 4th Farm Dinner for Cress in recent months

• Lesser Florida Seafood Dinner
  We are constantly trying to improve our ability to source ingredients that are sustainable and fresh. On Tuesday, November 12th, we partnered with Mike and Tony's Seafood to showcase a wide variety of Florida seafood options that are often overlooked or discarded in lieu of staples and often overfished options.

• Dr. Jenneffer Pulapaka Recognized!
  Dr Jenneffer Pulapaka who runs her own medical private practice The DeLand Foot and Leg Center and is also the Wine Director, Manager, and Co-Owner of Cress was recently named one of The Most Influential Women in Business for 2013 by the Volusia-Flagler Business Report! We are proud of her accomplishments and recognition!

• James Beard Foundation Chef's Boot Camp
  Chef Hari Pulapaka was as one of 15 chefs nationwide to partcipate in the first official Chef's Boot Camp for policy and change hosted by The James Beard Foundation in Louisville, KY during May 12-14, 2013. For more information, please visit the JBF's official page for this event.

• Cress and ZAGAT
  Cress was rated the Top Restaurant in Central Florida in the new Zagat Orlando Guide. Here is more information in an Official Zagat Blog