As I took the elevator from my room at the Lake Nona Wave Hotel down to the lobby restaurant, Bacán, I knew I was in for a treat. I had passed by the restaurant multiple times during my stay, and it was finally time to sit down and enjoy a meal at the restaurant that celebrates the bounty of the Americas. Upon entering, I was greeted by a larger-than-life mural of Pachamama, an Incan goddess, on the back wall. What followed was a delight for the senses.
The open kitchen gives you a look into the culinary ballet that takes place each night. I started with a cocktail, Tunki, a Pisco-based drink with honeydew melon juice that was light and refreshing on a warm Florida day. The tuna crudo was a perfect complement to the cocktail, thanks to the chili crunch and radish that was scattered around the plate.
The star of the menu is the half truffle chicken, where a Lake Meadows Farms chicken is cut into three pieces and served in three different ways. The thigh was served as a roulade, while the leg was golden brown with perfectly crispy skin, and the breast was succulent after being sous-vide.
Even though I was full, dessert was a must-have for me. The La Morada sweet finish was a perfect ending of churros, roasted pineapple, sorbet, and caramel.