321 Flavor Bites: New coffee shop opens in Melbourne; Titusville restaurant staff wins car
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Think things slow down on the Space Coast once school's out? Think again, especially if you're talking about what's happening in the world of food and dining.
We've got a new coffee shop opening. We've got a wine dinner in the works. There's a fundraiser for a local chef who was injured in a car accident. A favorite Cocoa Village hangout has reopened after a few weeks of renovation. And guess what the staff of one Titusville restaurant did when they won a charity raffle. Go ahead. Guess. (OK, you don't have to. Keep reading and I'll tell you.)
Let's start with a shot of caffeine.
7 Brew opens second Melbourne location
Coffee lovers, your drive-thru options continue to multiply. Melbourne's second 7 Brew location celebrates its grand opening at 10 a.m. Thursday at 6325 N. Wickham Road.
Representatives from 7 Brew will be there to talk about the coffee drive-thru's growing presence on the Space Coast.
7 Brew also will present a $2,000 check to Orlando Health Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children as part of the celebration. Saturday and Sunday, $1 from every large drink purchased at the new 7 Brew or at Brevard's two other locations will be donated to the hospital. Those other locations are at 1809 S. Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne; and 5450 Murrell Road, Viera, by the way.
What sets 7 Brew apart? "7 Brew prioritizes cultivating kindness and joy with every drink through service, speed, quality, energy and atmosphere," according to a press release from the company. Want to learn more? Click here to read this story by my colleague Rick Neale.
Staff of New York New York wins a new car ... and gives it back
For almost half a century, Crosswinds Youth Services has served vulnerable young people and their families in Brevard County, and for 25 years, the not-for-profit has hosted its Great Brevard Duck Race. This year's event grossed $135,000, said Karen Locke, Crosswinds chief operating officer.
To take part in the duck race, supporters of the organization, which to provides shelter, food, emergency services and counseling, adopt ducks for $5 and receive a chance to win prizes. This year's grand prize was a two-year lease on a Honda SUV donated by Space Coast Honda.
The prize was won by the staff of New York New York Tiki Bar & Grille, a riverfront surf and turf hangout with a tiki bar at 5401 Riveredge Drive, Titusville. So how does a restaurant staff split the use of an SUV? In this case, they didn't. They donated their prize back to Crosswinds. How cool is that?
Stop by and tell these folks thank you, and leave a nice tip.
Time Out is open
Time Out Sports Bar Plus, 607 Florida Ave., Cocoa Village, sustained damage to its patio roof back in November when Hurricane Nicole paid us a visit. (Here's the story I wrote at the time.) The restaurant closed April 16 to make repairs and give the whole place a facelift. The inside dining room reopened May 12, and as of May 26, the patio has reopened. Welcome back, Time Out.
Stand Up for chef Candice
Candice Dvorachek has loved cooking since she was a child spending time in the kitchen with her mother, aunts and grandmothers. She went to Pennsylvania Culinary Institute in Pittsburgh, where she earned an associate degree in culinary arts and a Le Cordon Bleu certificate.
Her career took her to the Breakers in Palm Beach, Sea Oaks Beach & Tennis Club in Vero Beach and Rockledge Country Club. She also worked in London and at a private golf club in Vero Beach.
In 2016, a car accident left her with multiple injuries and chronic pain. She hoped surgery in December would help stabilize her condition. Instead, complications left her in a wheelchair.
Dvorachek wants to continue cooking, but needs a wheelchair with a lift so she can reach the countertop and stove.
Glitter Alley, a boutique in downtown Melbourne specializing in handbags, jewelery, essential oils and fairies, will host a fundraiser for Dvorachek all day Friday, when 10% of all purchases will go to help purchase the wheelchair with a lift option.
The shop, located at 821 E. New Haven Ave., is open 11 a.m.-7 p.m. Friday. Dvorachek and her best friend, Kristy Davenport, will also host a Facebook Live shopping event from 7-9 p.m. after the store closes, with 10% of those sales going to Dvorachek as well.
Off to Argentina with Cafe Margaux
Guests at Café Margaux are off to Argentina during the Cocoa Village restaurant’s next wine dinner, slated for 6:30 p.m., Thursday and Friday, June 8 and 9.
The five-course event pairs the wines from Bodega Catena Zapata with a menu that features cream of garlic saffron soup with white potatoes, diced tomatoes and chives, a salad of baby gem lettuce, charred eggplant yogurt, smacked cucumber and shatta; teriyaki-glazed wahoo with black sesame risotto and mango strawberry chutney, herb-roasted sirloin; aged Reggianito cheese from Argentina and a dessert of hazelnut cookie with ricotta cream studded with pears.
Cost is $135 per guest. Reserve at 321-639-8343.
Café Margaux is at 220 Brevard Ave., Cocoa Village.
And while we're on the subject...
Did you know Cafe Margaux has a gorgeous new private dining room?
Read all about Penthouse at 266½ in this story by Maria Sonnenberg.
Summer Brewery Tour 2023
It's baaaaaaaaack! The Running Zone in Melbourne will again host its hot, hot, hot summer fun run series, visiting seven of Brevard's favorite breweries between June 6 and July 15.
We'll give you more information and the full schedule next week, but lace up those sneakers for the first run/walk, which will be at 6 p.m. June 6 at Carib Brewer USA, 200 Imperial Blvd, Cape Canaveral. This isn't a competition. It's just for fun — and for beer.
Why is a story about books on the food page?
Because they're books about cocktails, that's why! I've known Lucy Lakestone, aka Chris Kridler, for almost 25 years, and she's definitely one of the most talented folks I know. When she's not out chasing and photographing storms, she's writing cozy mystery novels about the Bohemia Bartenders.
Learn more about Chris and her books, which I think are perfect for your summer reading list, here. There's a cocktail recipe at the end of the story, so you can sip while you read.
And a little more fun with food
Hungry for more? Check out some of the stories my colleagues and I have written recently.
I collaborated with food journalists across the state for this Favorite Burgers Across Florida story.
Food writer and restaurant critic Lyn Dowling checked out some of the area's best restaurants where you can arrive by boat.
And I got to hang out with the folks at Pineapples in Eau Gallie and members of the Space Coast Gator Club to learn about their cool scholarship gala, Foods of the Space Coast. Pro tip: The dirty oysters on the menu for this June 3 event alone are worth the price of admission. Buy a ticket!
See ya next week!
If you have questions about any of our food content, feel free to reach out anytime via email at sleonard@floridatoday.com. Or connect with me on Facebook: @SuzyFlemingLeonard or on Instagram: @SuzyLeonard.
Until next time, happy eating y'all
Food Editor
FLORIDA TODAY
Maria Sonnenberg contributed to this report.
This article originally appeared on Florida Today: 321 Flavor Bites: Melbourne 7 Brew opens; help a chef get a wheelchair
