Newsy Nuggets: Burger edition

Written by Scott Joseph on .

Graffiti College Park

The College Park Graffiti Junktion will be scrubbed away Sunday. The burgerie, which opened in 2010, was the second location for the local mini chain. The first was in Thornton Park on East Washington Street. That one opened in 2008 in the space that is currently occupied by Cavo’s Kitchen and Bar. The Thornton Park GJ moved down the street to the corner of Summerlin Avenue in 2017, taking over the former Wildfire barbecue restaurant building.

At that time there were 10 Graffitis Junktion in operation. After Sunday there will be four remaining. The downtown Orlando store, on Church Street, closed in 2019 and is set to be home to a new taco concept.

Graffiti Junktion is known for its substantial burgers, loud music and louder decor.

Here’s a fun fact: before Graffiti Junktion, that College Park address was home to K Restaurant.

Pom Pom's to drop sandwiches at night in favor of cold noodles

Written by Scott Joseph on .

Pompoms extPom Pom's Teahouse & Sanwicheria, via Facebook

Citing a change in the nighttime eating habits of the dining public, Pom Moongauklang, the owner of Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria in the Milk District, will begin offering a completely different menu for dinner.

“People have stopped eating sandwiches at night,” she said in a phone interview Wednesday.

So starting April 1, the popular restaurant will feature an array of cold noodle dishes that are popular in Asian countries. Moongauklang said that although many Central Florida Asian restaurants often will feature a cold noodle dish on their menu, there isn’t one that specializes in them, offering an array of styles, ingredients and flavors. “I’m surprised there’s not a place doing it.”

“I’m a ramen head myself,” she said of the Japanese hot noodle soups that have become so popular in the last several years. “But if it’s 80 degrees at night I want something refreshing.”

Newsy Nuggets: Edible Education Experience, Four Flamingos bourbon dinner, Pints 'n Paws, and tippling with Tinker Bell

Written by Scott Joseph on .

Draftforspringfundraiser copy

Edible Education Experience, which operates the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Kitchen House & Culinary Garden in College Park, will host A Spring Soirée fundraiser on Monday, April 3, at 6 p.m. Tickets are $250 per person and can be purchased here.

The evening will feature a dinner cooked by Chef Ambassadors who have been invited by the house’s resident chef, Kevin Fonzo. Preparing the meal will be: Lordfer Lalicon, Kaya; Jamie McFadden, Cuisiniers; Wendy Lopez, Reyes Mezcaleria; Fabrizio Schenardi, Four Seasons Resort Orlando; and Ian Russell, Juliana Peña and Brett Vezina of Smoke & Donuts.

Proceeds will go to support the Edible Education Experience’s mission.

Four Flamingos: A Richard Blais Florida Kitchen at the Hyatt Regency Grand Cypress will host a bourbon pairing dinner on Wed., March 22, from 6 to 9 p.m. The dinner will feature a three-course menu from chef Shelby Farrell and whiskeys from Maker’s Mark. Tickets are $150 per person plus tax and fees. Reserve your space here.

On Saturday, Mar. 25, its the 11th annual Pints n’ Paws Craft Beer Festival in downtown Sanford. The event, hosted by West End Trading Co., Celery City Craft and Historic Downtown Sanford, is from 2 to 8 p.m. and costs $50 ($65 for VIP tickets). Clix for tix. Admission includes beer samples from over 100 breweries. Dogs are welcome and proceeds will benefit local pet rescue organizations. Attendees, including canines, must be 21 to consume beer – and not in dog years.

Speaking of underage drinking, the Oliv Bar in downtown Orlando will host a Peter Pan-themed popup bar in May. Oliv Bar is the same venue that has offered the Alice (as in Wonderland) Cocktail Experience and Beauty & the Beast immersive drinking events. Given that Peter Pan is historically played by a woman dressed as a boy, one wonders if that would be considered drag, which could put Oliv’s liquor license at risk. And then there’s Captain Hook’s flamboyant outfit. But if you like the idea of having drinks in Wendy, John and Michael’s bedroom and a Lost Weekend with the Lost Boys, you can get more information here.

MX Taco to close

Written by Scott Joseph on .

MX Taco interior

MX Taco, the Milk District taqueria, will close March 31, according to its chef and owner, Ryan Manning. The small shop opened four years ago and seemed to have early success. Early on, a second location was announced for Waterford Lakes.

Manning announced the closing in a Facebook post Sunday that read, “As we approach our four year anniversary our celebration will be our farewell party as well.” He wrote that he will be keeping MX Taco’s social media accounts active and will have occasional popup events. He also invited followers to visit a sister restaurant, Chilakihl, in Veracruz.

Manning had previously been chef at what was then The Ritz-Carlton Cancun. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment.