OPENINGS: Last month we told you about celeb vegan chef Matthew Kenney's restaurant Humbl taking root inside the two-story Franklin Street Hall at the Yard at Ivanhoe. Now we can tell you that Orlando Meats intends to be a vendor, though owner Edgar Massoni says a lease hasn't been signed as yet. The full-service food hall will see 10 restaurant vendors situated downstairs, with the upstairs reserved for overflow seating, private dining, stage performances and events. Two full liquor bars will also reside on the upper floor ... Bigfire, a lakeside lodge-style restaurant with a wood-fire grill that guests can see from anywhere in the venue, will open in the old Emeril's Orlando space at Universal Orlando's CityWalk this summer ... KaiKai inside the iFresh supermarket is now serving dim sum and Chinese barbecue ... Also at iFresh, Riccup Sushi is serving up "sushi cupcakes" ... The Pizza Press, a newspaper-themed pizza joint where guests are encouraged to "publish" (that is, build) their own pizzas, has opened in the Hamlin Town Center in Winter Garden ... Vinyl Arts Bar, 75 E. Colonial Drive near Magnolia Avenue, has been renovated and rebranded as the Vinyl Tapas Lounge offering Latin fusion tapas and flatbreads, as well as a selection of wine and wine-based cocktails ... Loggerhead Distillery, offering small-batch spirits (rum, gin, vodka, bourbon) crafted from locally sourced ingredients, will soft open April 26 on West Second Street in Sanford ... Look for the Clermont Brewing Company to open next month on West Desoto Street in, yes, Clermont. They'll offer Neapolitan pizzas, sushi and barbecue as well.
CLOSINGS: After six and a half years, Yuki Hana in Oviedo has served its last sushi roll.
EVENTS: Wolfgang Puck will gather together four of his finest chefs for a dinner event called the Spago Experience April 23 at his Disney Springs restaurant. Chefs Aram Mardigian (Wolfgang Puck American Grille, Atlantic City), Andrew Skala (CUT, Washington, D.C.) and Tetsu Yahagi (Spago Beverly Hills) join Michael Tiva (Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill, Orlando) to present a tasting menu highlighting some of Spago's most iconic dishes ... Whiskey Business, featuring everything from locally produced bourbons to single malts from Scotland, goes 7-10 p.m. Friday, April 26, at the Cheyenne Saloon. Tickets are $45 or $75 VIP, which gets you 6 p.m. entry. Visit whiskeybusinessorlando.com for more.
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