OPENINGS: Chalten Pizza and Helado, an Argentinian pizza and ice cream joint, will open in the space previously occupied by Trevi Pasta Express in Ivanhoe Village … Pizzeria Roberti, by accomplished chef Joseph Roberti, has opened in the old NY Pizza & Tripletas space on South Chickasaw Trail … The oddly named but awesomely menu’d Joyful Garden Seafoods Restaurant, promising authentic Chinese seafood fare, has opened in the 1st Oriental Supermarket plaza …
Brooklyn Coffee Shop has opened in the former Restaurant ASH space on Mills Avenue … Kava Cove Lounge, serving kava – the Polynesian beverage derived from the kava root – is now open on Fairbanks Avenue … Jax Thornton Park will open this August in the space that most recently housed Baoery Asian Gastropub in Thornton Park … The Gourmet Muffin is now serving, yep, gourmet muffins in Audubon Park …
Look for pizza joint Your Pie to open on the ground floor of the SkyHouse Orlando apartments … Achiote Puerto Rican Restaurant has opened in the Southchase Plaza on South OBT … El Molcajete Mexican Restaurant will open in the space that previously housed Willie’s Pinchos, La Chari and Tortilleria la Mexicana on North Goldenrod Road.
NEWS:
James Beard Foundation news: Hari Pulapaka (Cress Restaurant) and Kathleen Blake (The Rusty Spoon) are the only Florida chefs to pledge allegiance to Smart Catch, a chef-run sustainable seafood program; Tapa Toro (I-Drive), Hard Rock Café (Universal) and K Restaurant (College Park) are the local participants in the Blended Burger Project, which strives to make burgers better by blending ground meat with chopped mushrooms for a healthier nosh.
EVENTS:
The trio behind the soon-to-open Kadence will host a sushi pop-up at Redlight Redlight at 5:30 p.m. on June 18 and 25 … IKEA’s Midsummer Smorgasbord Dinner is Friday, June 16 at 5 p.m. Cost is $16.99 ($4.99 children 12 and under) … Soulful Sunday will feature a congregation of soul-food trucks 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, June 18, at Hungerford Field in Eatonville … Dragonfly Robata hosts a masquerade party Saturday, June 24. On arrival, guests will select a mask, then enjoy complimentary cocktails and hors d’oeuvres before gorging on a six-course meal. Cost is $140 per couple.
Got restaurant dish? Send tips to dining@orlandoweekly.com
Related Stories
This article appears in Jun 14-20, 2017.
