SerpApi.Org
Stirrups now offers an intimate tasting menu unlike any other dinner reservation in the South.
Whether you’ve spent your life in the saddle or simply never outgrew your horse-girl phase, there’s a new reason to visit Ocala, Florida. At the World Equestrian Center, championship horses, elite riders, and devoted horse lovers gather year-round for some of the sport’s biggest competitions. Now, the sprawling destination is giving food lovers a reason to visit, too.
Among the Center’s seven restaurants, Stirrups is now offering a 12-course tasting experience where diners can savor seasonal Southern-inspired cuisine while overlooking the Grand Outdoor Arena and its elegant sport horses. Limited to just six guests per evening, the four-hour experience combines storytelling, wine pairings, and one of the most unique dining settings in the South.
What Is The World Equestrian Center?
Often nicknamed the “Disney World of Horses,” the World Equestrian Center in Ocala is the largest equestrian complex in the United States. Spanning more than 2,000 acres, the destination features 29 competition arenas, stabling for up to 3,000 horses, and indoor and outdoor venues that host some of the sport’s biggest events, including the Longines FEI Jumping World Cup, World Championship Hunter Rider Weeks, and National and FEI Grand Prix competitions.
But even if you’ve never sat in a saddle, there’s plenty to experience. The sprawling resort is home to two hotels—the luxury Equestrian Hotel and the Riding Academy Hotel—along with pools, a full-service spa, upscale boutiques, and seven restaurants. Among them is Stirrups, the resort’s signature steakhouse, where guests can now settle in for a four-hour, 12-course tasting menu overlooking the Grand Outdoor Arena.
The New 12-Course Dining Experience
Dinner and a show usually means a kitschy Medieval Times performance or maybe a community theater production. But at the World Equestrian Center’s signature restaurant, Stirrups, the entertainment comes courtesy of world-class horses. The restaurant overlooks the Grand Outdoor Arena, giving diners a front-row seat to horses training, competing, or warming up, depending on the evening’s event schedule.
The new 12-course tasting menu puts a creative spin on Southern classics, with dishes like truffle hushpuppies, house-made sourdough with sorghum butter, and Carolina Gold rice topped with crawfish. The meal unfolds over nearly four hours, with each course introduced alongside stories about its inspiration. If you really want to lean into the experience, you can also add a wine or cocktail pairing led by the restaurant’s sommelier. And with just six seats available each evening, it’s the kind of dinner that feels less like a restaurant reservation and more like being invited into someone’s very elaborate dinner party.
What Makes This Tasting Menu Different
I’ll be honest: I’m not usually the biggest fan of tasting menus, mostly because I’m ready to call it a night by about course number four. If you’re anything like me, you may be rolling your eyes at the thought of a four-hour dinner (or maybe you love that sort of thing—in which case, carry on!). But Stirrups is different. Sure, each dish is thoughtfully prepared and beautifully presented, but there’s plenty happening beyond the plate, too.
Whether you’re a horse connoisseur or just someone who can’t help slowing down when you spot one in a field, there’s something mesmerizing about watching these incredible animals and their riders in action. Between the ever-changing view of the Grand Outdoor Arena, the stories behind each course, and the intimate chef’s table setting, the evening feels less like sitting through a tasting menu and more like experiencing dinner as entertainment.
Before You Go
- Reservations are required. With only six seats available each evening, booking well in advance is recommended.
- When it’s offered. Wednesday and Thursday evenings only.
- Plan for the evening. The experience lasts approximately three and a half to four hours, so don’t expect a quick dinner before another activity.
- Dress code. Business casual or evening attire is encouraged, and athleisure isn’t permitted—so it’s the perfect excuse to get a little dressed up.
- Price. The tasting menu starts at $280 per person, with optional wine or cocktail pairings available for an additional cost.
- Check the event calendar. Since the restaurant overlooks the Grand Outdoor Arena, it’s worth seeing what’s happening during your visit so you can enjoy the best views of the horses and riders.
Read the original article on Southern Living
