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Newsy Nuggets: La Cantina, 4 Rivers and Roots, and a Magical Dinner

Written By Scott Joseph On July 9, 2020

lindas sign

Linda’s La Cantina, Central Florida’s oldest restaurant (est. 1947), took a planned vacation that was to last a week, from June 30 through July 6. However, during that time, the restaurant’s chef and butcher tested positive for COVID-19. So needless to say the restaurant did not open on Tuesday as planned. A post on the restaurant’s Facebook page Wednesday said that all other employees have tested negative for the virus and stated: “This lets us know that all the Precautions we have enacted are working. This also tells us that our customers are not coming to dine sick.” I’m not an epidemiologist, but I’m not sure that last part is necessarily true.

The chef, identified in the posts only as Steve and as the restaurant’s backbone for 41 years, is still sick, according to Wednesday’s post, and the steakhouse will not reopen until he’s well. Kudos to Linda’s for its transparency.

South Steel SJO March AD copy

black youth

Kudos, too, to 4 Rivers Smokehouses, which is donating a portion of all sales on Thursdays through July to Black Youth Education. (Hey look, today’s a Thursday.) The donations will include in-store and online purchases at the smokehouses and the Coop, but you can also make a direct donation at this link.

4roots farm rendering

As long as we’re talking 4 Rivers, I should mention that the City of Orlando has approved 4Roots, a nonprofit alliance founded by 4 Rivers’ headwater, John Rivers, to lease to lease 18 acres for its 4Roots Farm Campus in the under-development Packing District.

“4Roots will be a place where thought leaders from around the world converge to challenge the norm and explore new ideas and innovations for building a sustainable food system and restoring a harmonistic relationship with the land,” Rivers said in a statement.

Kostya

Internationally known magician Kostya Kimlat, who got his start doing tableside card tricks at Christner’s Prime Steak & Lobster (when it was still known as Del Frisco’s), is partnering with Puff ’n Stuff Catering for a virtual magic dinner show on Sunday, July 19, at 7 p.m. P ’n S will provide the dinner – to be picked up or delivered on the day before, with reheating instructions – and Kimlat will provide the magic via Zoom. Just remember not to say “how the $(@* did he do that?” with your mouth full. To see the details, including menu, and to purchase tickets, visit the event’s webpage. What’s it going to costya to see Kostya? $55 per person, two person minimum.

bite3020

Bite30, the Orlando Weekly dining promotion that usually runs the month of June (because 30 days hath it), will now take place July 15 through Aug. 16 at restaurants throughout Central Florida. Participating restaurants offer a prix fixe multi-course dinner for $30. This year, the promotion is being amended to offer the deal for takeout, but for a $5 surcharge. The rationale is that the restaurants have extra costs in takeout containers and sacks, to which you say, yeah, but they’re saving on washing dishes and wiping down the seats, to which I say, oh just shut up and pay the five bucks. And tip well, too. ABC Fine Wine & Spirits and Tito’s Handmade Vodka are sponsors, so ask if cocktail specials are also available for takeout. Click here to see the participating restaurants.

Gift three

This week’s drawing will be winner’s choice: $50 gift certificate to the Tap Room at Dubsdread; $50 gift card to Big Fin Seafood Kitchen; or $20 in Brunch Bucks plus a cookbook from First Watch. If you get my weekly News from the Flog e-letter in your inbox, you’re already entered to win. If you don’t, well, first of all I’m devastated. Secondly, fix that by clicking here.

We hope you find our reviews and news articles useful and entertaining. It has always been our goal to assist you in making informed decisions when spending your dining dollars. If we’ve helped you in any way, please consider making a contribution to help us continue our journalism. Thank you.

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