This autumn, Florida’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex will once again take holidaymakers on a flavourful journey through the cosmos during ‘Taste of Space: Fall Bites!’. Adding to the foodie fun will be the return of special after-hours events: the 3rd annual ‘Marstini Shake-Off’ on 6 October and the ‘Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition’ on 3 November.
Taste of Space: Fall Bites! will take place at several eateries throughout the visitor complex. From 2 October – 5 November 2023, guests can enjoy a variety of seasonal dishes* while exploring the many inspirational and fun attractions that bring the epic story of the US space programme to life.
Tempting the tastebuds at the Space Bowl Bistro located inside Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex® will be an arugula salad with fire-roasted peppers, onions, corn & black beans; roasted Brussels sprouts with cranberries, pecans, parmesan & Applewood bacon; and dulce de leche with pumpkin spice. Guests of the Orbit Cafe will be treated to an Applewood bacon, gouda & arugula sandwich on a pretzel bun; loaded sweet potato topped with maple cinnamon butter & Applewood bacon; or a jumbo apple cider cupcake with caramel frosting.
The Moon Rock Cafe will offer a black bean salad with arugula, fire-roasted peppers, onions and corn as well as a turkey brie wrap with arugula and cranberry mayonnaise. Walking nachos with chili cheese and jalapenos will be available at the Red Rock Grill, as well as sweet potato tots complemented with maple cinnamon butter and Applewood bacon.
On the menu at Milky Way ice-cream shop will be delectable, sweet treats such as fried apple pie tossed in cinnamon and sugar and pumpkin spice bundt cake, both topped with salted caramel ice cream. Local brewed beers will also be available for purchase inside Planet Play.
As well as the chance to try the Taste of Space: Fall Bites! seasonal dishes during general admission, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is also hosting special food and beverage events, attended by veteran astronauts.
Quickly becoming a fan favourite event, the 3rd annual ‘Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off’ will take place on 6 October, from 6.30pm – 9pm, inside Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex. For guests aged 21+, the Marstini Shake-Off promises a showcase of flavours and beverages for the season at each food station.
Participants will mix and mingle with veteran NASA astronauts Scott Altman, Chris Ferguson and Anthony “Tony” Antonelli while enjoying elevated items at food stations throughout Gateway. Then, they will cheer on local bartenders from Playalinda Brewing Company: Brix Project, Third Culture Kitchen, The Space Bar and Jack & Harry’s as they create their version of the perfect Marstini. Guests can sample drinks and then vote for their favourites. Tickets for the Taste of Space Marstini Shake-Off are $159pp + tax.
On 3 November, the stars realign during Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition, a celebrity-studded chef demo and dinner event. In its second year, the event will feature acclaimed chefs Duff Goldman and Esther Choi**, with Chef Jon Ashton returning as the host of the evening. The event will feature chefs Goldman and Choi demonstrating their expert cooking techniques alongside veteran astronauts Anna Fisher, Bruce Melnick and Scott Altman. Guests will have the chance to enjoy exclusive menu items as they hear personal stories about the experience of eating in space, and favourite foods the astronauts enjoyed during their flights. The chance to take photos with the astronauts following the demo will be accompanied by a delectable selection of desserts, including a speciality cake designed by Duff. Tickets for this event are $175pp + tax.
Gourmands seeking even more flavour can take advantage of a very limited number of tickets available for an exclusive meal that will follow the chef demo. The two-hour, sit-down, multi-course dinner will feature a menu designed by Goldman and Choi and will take place on the second floor of Gateway inside the flight terminal of Spaceport KSC. Personal visits to each table will be made by the celebrity chefs and astronauts in attendance. Ending the meal with a treat sweeter than most desserts, guests will have the chance to mingle and take photos with Goldman and Choi. Tickets are $499pp + tax and include both the chef demo and sit-down dinner.
New this year is a Taste of Space Bundle Package, making it possible to attend both the Marstini Shake-Off and Celebrity Chef Edition events for a discounted price of $285.57pp + tax.
Tickets for the Marstini Shake-Off, Celebrity Chef Edition, exclusive meal with Goldman, Choi and veteran astronauts, and the Taste of Space Bundle Package are all available for purchase online at: www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex brings to life the epic story of the US space programme, offering a full day or more of fun, inspiration, and educational activities. Single-day admission is $75 per adult/$65 per child plus tax, and the two-day ticket is $89 per adult/$79 per child. Located just 45 minutes from Orlando, Florida, Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex is open daily at 9am, with closing times varying by season.
An offer with a saving of $7 per person saving is currently running at Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. Bookable online until 30 August 2023, the offer applies to a named date visit any time before 31 December 2023. Guests enter promo code SAVE7 during checkout when buying at www.kennedyspacecenter.com/
For more information, please visit www.kennedyspacecenter.com.
