OPENINGS
A food truck park called A La Cart Street Food and Craft Beer is rarin' to go this summer in the Milk District ... Over in Thornton Park, look for Big Time Streetfood Co. to open next to Burton's this spring ... Foxtail's Farmhouse, with its additional seating, coffee siphon bar and craft cocktails on tap, opens Saturday next to Foxtail Coffee in Winter Park ... Tori Tori, a Japanese pub/izakaya by Domu's Sonny Nguyen and Johnny Tung, will open this summer in Mills 50. Expect Sonny's renditions of yakitori when it opens ... Look for Lucky's Market to open in the old Sports Authority space in Colonial Landing Plaza later this year ... Caro-Bama BBQ has opened inside the North Quarter Market ... Taco news: Gringos Locos has opened on East Michigan Street in SoDo; Tin & Taco will open a hot-sauce squirt away in the old Kimchi's Korean Grill space on East Michigan this April; Taco Maker Mexican Grill will open a second location on Lake Underhill Road sometime this spring; and Fuzzy's Taco Shop will open later this month downtown next to Orange County Brewers.
CLOSINGS
Carmel Kitchen & Wine Bar has shuttered in Winter Park ...The Nona Tap Room has closed and will reopen as a restaurant/bar under new ownership ... Kimchi's Korean Grill will close Feb. 27.
EVENTS
Two big events to keep in mind: Field to Feast, the outdoor culinary extravaganza at Long & Scott Farms Feb. 17, will see top Disney chefs prepare dishes from locally sourced ingredients; tickets are $175. Also on Feb. 17, the 9th annual Orlando Chili Cook-Off takes place from noon to 6 p.m. at Festival Park. Early bird tickets are $10; $15 at the door; $40 VIP.
NEWS
Ron Rupert, who helped open Disney's California Grill and Jiko at Animal Kingdom Lodge, has been appointed executive chef of Wine Bar George, which is now slated for a spring opening ... Cavanaugh's Fine Wines in College Park will transform into Digress Wine, a "welcoming neighborhood wine bar and bottle shop that champions artisanal producers" by early March ... Wahlburger's and Toasted are both now offering the Impossible Burger while BurgerFi is serving the Beyond Burger – both 100 percent meatless options. Maybe now carnivores and vegans can dine together peacefully.
Got restaurant dish? Send tips to [email protected]
