Photo: The Monroe

In the latest match of Musical Chefs, we learn that Josh Oakley will leave 1921 Mount Dora for the currently-under-construction Monroe (see photo at top to show I’m not kidding), a new concept from Good Salt Restaurant Group set to open in Creative Village’s Julian Apartments next year. 1921 seems to be particularly diasporadic to a chef’s career. You’ll recall that it was originally 1921 by Norman Van Aken, who held the executive chef title while Camilo Velasco was the chef de cuisine.

Van Aken ended his relationship with the restaurant, prompting the name change. (I still think they should have just changed it to 1921 Not by Norman Van Aken but no one took my calls.) Then Velasco left and moved to Ravenous Pig to become chef de cuisine… of lunch, which seemed a step down. Oakley, who had previously been at Smiling Bison, took over at 1921.

Then Velasco left the Pig to take a position at a Disney’s Old Key West. Clay Miller left DoveCote in downtown Orlando and moved to RavPig. DoveCote’s website lists two sous chefs (chefs de sous?) but no executive chef. And we’ll just have to wait to see who takes over at 1921 and just how long he or she stays.

• And, of course, we will be anxious to see who will be the chef de cuisine at Norman’s in its new location when it opens. If it opens. (What have you heard?)

• Speaking of Norman’s, the restaurant that replaced it at the Ritz-Carlton Grande Lakes Resort, Knife & Spoon, opens on Wed., Oct 7.
• Also Wednesday, Kim Wu Chinese Restaurant will close permanently. Yes, yes, I know you’ve heard this before. Back in December, I told you that Kim Wu had closed after 37 years. Then I had to amend that to say that the restaurant had not yet closed and would be open through the end of January. Then the owners of the Kirkman Road wokker said it would remain open indefinitely. According to the restaurant’s Facebook page, Covid-19 has turned the indefinite to the definite. Originally, the owners posted that the closing date would be Oct. 29 but moved the date up over the weekend.
• Papa Llama has opened its storefront restaurant in the Curry Ford West district. Wait, hold on. Now the word is that it had a soft opening and is now closed until later on in the month. I’m not sure that’s how soft openings work.
• The 4 Rivers Smokehousers are opening a new concept at Orlando Science Center called 4Roots Cafe. Besides a healthful menu, the cafe will feature a living wall (please God let that mean vegetation), farming and cooking demonstrations, and food hero exhibits. Later this month, I’m told.
• And speaking of 4 Rivers, the local barbecuer is now shipping its menu items nationwide through Goldbelly, which curiously lists Kissimmee as 4 Rivers Smokehouse’s home. But since Goldbelly uses FedEx and UPS to deliver its goods, it’s possible that you could actually schedule a whole brisket or rib platter to be delivered on a Sunday. Nice workaround.