New Restaurant Planned for Former Beacon and iMansion Space in Sanctuary Condos

Written by Scott Joseph on .

Exclusive -- A new restaurant and bar with the tentative name Napa’s Stone-Fired Draft House is planned for the space in the Sanctuary condominiums that previously held (ever so briefly) iMansion and, before that, the Beacon. The owners, which include members of the group that had owned the Beacon, are Mark Angelo, his brother Robert Angelo Jr., Todd Ulmer and Chance Gordy.

Mark Angelo says the space will be completely redesigned with a rustic California decor that will have lots of stone and wood and will feature a special stone oven to bake the California style pizzas in. The menu will also offer baked wings, sandwiches and salads, many made with organic, locally sourced products.

Angelo says there will be a full liquor bar and 50 beers on tap, as well as over 100 bottled beers and an array of California wines.

Angelo, who also owns Mucho across the street in the 101 Eola condominiums, says he is also planning a package liquor store for the space next to Mucho. He says the liquor store will have a Day of the Dead theme, therefore they would like to be open by November 1st. He hopes to open Napa’s at about the same time.The new restaurant will employ a staff of 40.

The name of the restaurant in the Sanctuary space may change depending on whether there is any conflict with the soon-to-be-open Napa restaurant at Peabody Orlando.

Restaurant Row Urban Flats Sold to Group That Includes Manny Garcia

Written by Scott Joseph on .

Exclusive -- The Urban Flats on Sand Lake Road’s Restaurant Row has been sold to a group of investors that includes Manny Garcia. It will be owned and operated by Garcia’s daughter, Ginaurbanflats Buell, and her husband, Mike. The two also operate an Urban Flats in the Villages.

Urban Flats began with a location on the corner of Fairbanks Avenue and New York Avenue in Winter Park. Flatbreads were the main focus of the menu, and still are, although the restaurant in recent years has been adding more substantial entrees to its fare. The original location closed last year. The Sand Lake Road Urban Flats is in the Dellagio Plaza, 7958 Via Dellagio Way, Orlando.

Orlando Man Named Best Pastry Chef in America

Written by Scott Joseph on .

Andreas
Andreas Proisl
Andreas Proisl, executive pastry chef at Isleworth Country Club in Windermere, has been named the Pastry Chef of the Year by the American Culinary Federation. Proisl, a resident of Orlando, was awarded the honor at the ACF National Covnention in Anaheim last week.

The ACF Pastry Chef of the Year award, established in 2004, recognizes, according to a press release, “a pastry chef who displays a passion for the craft, has an accomplished reputation in the pastry field and has helped educate others by sharing skills and knowledge.”

Proisl received the national award after competing against the three other finalists from other regions in a live competition Aug. 4. Chefs had 3 hours, 30 minutes to prepare, cook and serve a decorated torte/cake, contemporary dessert and hot restaurant-style dessert. A panel of judges selected the winner.

Proisl’s menu was: an almond soufflé cake with peach sorbet, raspberry/peach compote and peach sauce; Splenda pineapple mousse carrot cake with braised pineapple, sugar-free vanilla ice cream, pecan crunch and strawberry jelly; and a vanilla, orange and hazelnut torte.

Proisl, a 25-year pastry veteran, trained in Vienna, Austria, and specializes in European pastries, including classic Viennese and French cakes and tortes. He has worked for the private country club since 2000, and provides desserts and specialty wedding cakes for the club’s restaurants and banquets.

Winter Park Shipyard Brewpub Will Feature Cuisine of Big Wheel Provisions

Written by Scott Joseph on .

Tony_Adams
Tony Adams of Big Wheel Provisions
More information is coming in about the Shipyard Brewing Co.’s brewpub I told you about last week. The Portland, Maine, company is taking over the former Strollo’s Cucina Due space on Fairbanks Avenue. The company has just announced that the food will be under the direction of Tony Adams, owner of Big Wheel Provisions of Orlando. Big Wheel is one of the big wheels of locavorism and the slow-food movement. In fact, when it opens, in mid- to late-October, don't be surprised if it's called the Shipyard Brew Pub and Big Wheel Provisions Marketplace.

Big Wheel is a regular at the Audobon Park Community Market, and on Monday, August 16, Adams and Ron Raike, who will oversee the restaurant’s brewing tanks, will offer tastes of food and beer at the market. The market is in the parking lot of Stardust Video and Coffee at 1842 E. Winter Park Road, Orlando. The tasting will be from 6 to 10 p.m.

Raike, an Orlando native, has been with Shipyard Brewing Company for 13 years as a brewer and brewery representative. He will tend to the brewpub’s 28-gallon brewing system (that could be depleted on a good night).

Big Wheel Provisions produces all of its products in small amounts using local, seasonal ingredients.