World Equestrian Center in Ocala has swung open the doors to The Equestrian Manor, a four-story, roughly 300,000-square-foot addition packed with event space, rooftop perches and four new chef-driven restaurants. The expansion pushes the equestrian complex’s on-site dining count to 13, six years after the property first launched its culinary program in 2021.
The debut marks what resort executive chef Stephan Holland described as a paradigm shift for the property, according to the Orlando Sentinel. World Equestrian Center welcomes local residents alongside resort guests and competitors, and the public can attend most events without paying an admission fee.
A Four-Story Wing Built for Big Appetites
Per 352today, The Equestrian Manor measures 303,857 square feet and includes the 10,500-square-foot Eloise’s Grand Ballroom, a space large enough to host up to 1,200 attendees for conventions, weddings and galas, according to Eventective. The building’s four chef-driven concepts include the Pan-Asian White Willow, the Italian fine-dining Genevieve’s and the 400-seat Polo Pony, alongside a new outpost of Emma’s Patisserie.
White Willow’s kitchen relies on fish flown in from Japan twice weekly for its raw and cooked Pan-Asian menu, per the same account. Emma’s Patisserie, tucked into just 700 square feet, has handled as many as 800 transactions in a single day and served up to 1,600 guests, rounding out its offerings with fresh-baked bread, gelato and ample seating.
From Nobu Alum to James Beard Semifinalist
Holland’s résumé includes stints working alongside chefs José Andrés and Nobu Matsuhisa, and he has said the resort is aiming to draw both international travelers and local diners, the Sentinel reports…