- A reminder that the always fun Science of Wine is Saturday, April 27, from 7 to 10 p.m. at, appropriately enough, the Orlando Science Center. This is the annual event that destroys the myth that wine is created by magic. This year, our friends Kendra Lott of Edible Orlando and Tasty Chomp’s Ricky Ly will collaborate on “Supermarket Science,” a spin-the-wheel trivia contest on food knowledge. Proceeds from the evening go to the Science Center. Learn about the science of ticket sales here.
- Z Asian Vietnamese Kitchen at 1830 E. Colonial Drive in Orlando is in soft opening. I don’t know what that means anymore.
- Super Rico Columbian Bistro in downtown Orlando is in a soft closing. The owners posted on the restaurant’s Facebook page that they are closed for “construction and remodeling.” That’s usually code for a hard opening, but this one looks legit — a reopening is promised for sometime in May. No word on whether that will be soft or hard.
- Tamale Co. food truck will open its first brick and mortar location on Saturday, May, 5, and get this: it’s a Grand Opening; only the tamales will be soft. The restaurant will occupy a spot in the Hourglass Social House at Curry Ford Road and Bumby Avenue. I guess that qualifies as brick and mortar.
- O’Charley’s Restaurant and Bar has closed. The Sentinel’s Kyle Arnold reported that the Nashville-based chain closed its only Orlando store last Saturday. No reason was given, though I’m sure it had nothing to do with mediocre food, lackadaisical service and dozens of better dining options nearby. From my June 2009 review of the then-newcomer: “It’s the first Central Florida O’Charley’s from the Nashville-based company. If they’re all like this one, let’s hope it’s the last.”
- Tin & Taco will be taking over the space formerly occupied by two iterations of The Pie in College Park. This will be T&T’s third location. Its second, on Michigan Street in the Sodo district, recently expanded.
- Pizza Bruno will shut down the oven in the Orange County Brewers space in downtown Orlando at the end of the month. PB was the third pizzamaker to work out of the beermaker’s space in just a year and a half. Who would have guessed that pizza and beer would be a losing combination?
- Dates have been announced for this year’s Epcot International Food & Wine Festival. You’ll have a record 87 days to experience the fest, which will span four calendar months, opening on Aug. 29 and closing on Nov. 23, the weekend before Thanksgiving. Traditionally, the festival actually opens the day before its published start date. You may call it a soft opening if you wish.
