Taste of space returns to Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex

Guests can send their taste buds into the stratosphere at Florida’s Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex. The visitor complex is the only place on earth to sample Mars-inspired cocktails, devour meals prepared by celebrity chefs, mingle with veteran NASA astronauts and taste seasonal menu items while exploring the icons of space exploration.

Several Taste of Space events are launching for autumn, including the chance to enjoy special menu items at Taste of Space: Fall Bites!, out of this world cocktails at Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off, ice cream sundaes with VIP guests at Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Ice Cream Social, and star-studded culinary experiences at Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition.

Taste of Space: Fall Bites! returns for a fourth year, bringing a delectable selection of special menu items* featuring distinctive autumnal flavours. The menu items will be available across several eateries throughout the visitor complex, from 30 September – 3 November 2024.

• A trip to Orbit Cafe will warm guests up with a hearty chili featuring lentils and squash or delectable cranberry brie “Moon” puffs with honey and toasted almonds.
• Inside Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex^®, the Space Bowl Bistro will feature a colourful harvest bowl that includes quinoa, tricolored potatoes, super greens, diced granny smith apples and goat cheese, finished with maple syrup.
• For dessert, guests can head to Milky Way for a flaky pear galette topped with vanilla bean ice cream.
• A meteor shower can be found at Red Rock Grill in the form of lamb “meteor” meatballs featuring spiced mint marinara.
• The Moon Rock Cafe, located at the Apollo/Saturn V Center, will offer an autumn pizza topped with bacon, fig and habanero spread, squash, sweet potato, sopressata, cheddar cheese and sage.
• Local beer brews will also be available for purchase inside Planet Play.

Menu items are available for purchase, but attending Fall Bites! is included with Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex admission.

On 4 October 2024, bartenders from local bars, including Lourdes Library, The Space Bar, Playalinda’s Brix Project, 28 North Gastropub, The Alilbi Cocktails & Bites and Oceanside Distillery, will compete for the coveted Marstini trophy at the fourth annual Taste of Space: Marstini Shake-Off. Taking place inside Gateway: The Deep Space Launch Complex, guests aged  21+ can sample each Marstini and enjoy several fall dishes while mingling with veteran NASA astronaut Tony Antonelli. Attendees will also have the opportunity to vote for their favourite cocktail creation to win the coveted ‘People’s Choice Award’.

Another foodie favourite event returns on 2 November 2024 with the third Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition, featuring renowned American chefs Duff Goldman and Amanda Freitag, alongside British chef Jon Ashton. The Chef Demonstration and Tasting is a one-of-a-kind evening event featuring the celebrity chefs demonstrating their expert cooking techniques on stage, alongside veteran astronauts Robert Cabana, Janet Kavandi and Jose Hernandez. Guests will have the chance to sample from the chef demonstration menu as they hear personal stories about the experience of eating in space and menu items the astronauts enjoyed during their flights. Tickets include food samplings, two alcholic drinks, astronaut photo opportunities, signed commemorative gifts by the chefs and astronauts, a custom event pin and a signature cake designed by Duff and Charm City Cakes.

New this year, an exclusive family-friendly Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Ice Cream Social with Goldman and Freitag will round out the Taste of Space: Celebrity Chef Edition weekend. On 3 November 2024, the chefs will conduct a short demo while interacting with guests as they create their own ice cream sundaes. Duff’s signature cake will also be on display during the event. In addition to one-day admission, tickets for the Ice Cream Social are $60 plus tax for adults and $50 plus tax for children.

Tickets to the visitor complex start from $75 per adult and $65 per child for single-day admission. A two-day ticket, which can be used for up to six months from purchase and averages a cost of less than $45 per day, is available for $89 per adult and $79 per child.