Cuisine Queen

Good News (For A Change)

Paula [paula@ocalasgoodlife.com]

I hope everyone had safe and wonderful holidays with friends and family. With 2020 behind us, let’s focus on fun news! The Ocala Downtown buzz is on Mellow Mushroom, mellowmushroom.com, moving in where Brother’s Keeper used to be.

I’ve enjoyed stone-baked pizzas from the Mellow Mushroom in Mount Dora and am thrilled to see one come to our town. Their dough is built upon ingredients that include Appalachian water (see more about water/crust below) and unbleached wheat flour. Founded over 40 years ago by three college students, you can look forward to calzones, sandwiches, salads, craft brews, and hand-crafted cocktails when they hopefully open this summer.

Ocala has acquired another Golden Spoon award. It was awarded to an Ocala gourmet restaurant that serves wine from its own Florida vineyards. Actress/ singer Jennifer Lopez, Latin pop singer Olga Teresa Tanon Ortiz, and former majorleaguer Alex Rodriquez have all visited this Downtown gem. Can you guess yet? You are correct! Katya Vineyards Tasting Room, 528-2675, has joined the ranks of Craft Cuisine (which sadly recently closed), La Cuisine, and Sky Fine Dining. Congratulations to the Sokol family and their Chef, Tony Deras, for earning one of the highest culinary awards in the state.

As of this writing, Golden Corral, 690-3020, is still closed but has plans of reopening. However, another favorite that is open and now serving booze with their biscuits is Cracker Barrel, 854-7870. Yep, now serving beer, wine, and mimosas! Another restaurant with a new item is Panera Bread, 732-0099, and its new line of flatbread pizzas. There are oodles of reviews about them on the internet, but only your taste buds will know for sure. Go ahead and try any of the three they offer: the Margherita, Chipotle Chicken & Bacon, and the Classic Cheese. Order online and have it ready for pick-up or you can dine inside or outside.

We love reader recommendations and Karen Amarando suggests Fiore’s Café, 789-6980, on Pine Avenue in the old Pizza Hut “up on the hill,” she wrote. “They have food to die for, exceptional service, and pizza crust made from water shipped from New York.” I’ve heard this before. Does water really make a difference? Yes! It has to do with minerals in the water bonding to the gluten in the dough to make a crispier crust. Thanks, Karen!

Dunnellon is in for a treat. Father-and-son biz, Gyros King is moving from their small location into the old Carmela’s on Hwy. 41 and changing their name to Gyros King Grill, 547-6774. If their plans for the smaller building come true, the locals will love it! For now it’s a secret and we’ll say more next issue.

Goodbye Brusters Ice Cream and hello to Jeremiah’s Italian Ice, 304-6577. It’s not just ice, though. They offer over 40 flavors of Italian ice and creamy ice cream (vanilla and chocolate). The fun starts when layering the Italian ice with ice cream. They call it a Gelati, the showcase of their menu. It must be good because whenever I drive by, I often see many cars waiting in the drive-through.

Valentine’s Day is coming up, so surprise your sweetheart and rent a room at the new Hilton Garden Inn Ocala Downtown and dine in or explore the many restaurants within walking distance, from French and Cajun to Asian and American. Finish the evening on the hotel’s veranda before retiring to your room. But wherever you decide to go, make your reservations now!

Till next time.