The disappointment that came with the January announcement of the closing of Guernsey Park didn’t last long as owner Truong Le quickly converted the building into two concepts: Okie Pokie, which opened in late March, and Noodee, which held its soft opening April 16. Okie Pokie became the first of three high-profile poke restaurants — […]
Food Features
Posted inFood & Drink
Teacher hospitality
Throughout the nine days of demonstrations at the Capitol during the Oklahoma teacher walkout, local businesses poured onto Lincoln Boulevard to offer free food and drinks to teachers and protesters in need. Other businesses followed suit, offering educators and public employees discounts. 84 Hospitality Group (Empire Slice House, Gorō Ramen, ¡Revolución!, Easy E Slice Shop […]
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Bittersweet closing
Oklahoma City residents were shocked in early April when Daniel Chae announced that his popular restaurant Chae Modern Korean would be closing its doors at the end of the month. It’s a decision that was put into new context on April 11 when Chae announced that he is running for Oklahoma County treasurer, which only […]
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Opportunity window
For 39 years, 42nd Street Candy Co. has been a staple along Western Avenue, but the brick-and-mortar location is closing April 27 after owner Teresa Wall said the store never really recovered from the loss of traffic from prolonged construction along the corridor. “We fought so hard to recover after the construction, and I kept […]
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Name-worthy
The hand-built wooden wine cases overlooking the dining room at Legend’s Restaurant in Norman are remnants of Oklahoma’s archaic liquor laws. They are converted liquor lockers from the days when bottle clubs were needed to get around the state’s liquor-by-the-drink ban until 1985. The cabinets are surrounded by wrought-iron railings and chandeliers rescued from the […]
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Holistic hunger
Taking inspiration from the Japanese term kaizen that means “change for better,” Oklahoma City-based Kize Concepts offers healthy energy bars, catering and meal services to address more than physical hunger. University of Oklahoma graduate Jeff Ragan founded Kize in 2013. He was looking for an opportunity to combine his three passions: helping people, entrepreneurship and […]
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Ballpark eats
Long before the lines on the base paths are drawn or even before a batting practice pitch is thrown, Oklahoma City Dodgers’ executive chef Will Fenwick and staff are cutting produce and getting items ready for that day’s concessions. “It’s a daily operation of getting items ready for the concession and the buffet [in the […]
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Helping hand
Oklahoma Gazette’s OKC Restaurant Week returns next week, and every $1 spent at lunch or dinner with a participating restaurant benefits Allied Arts. Founded in 1971, Allied Arts provides financial and hands-on support for 40 arts and cultural organizations in Oklahoma in addition to providing grants for non-member groups. Allied Arts announced its community-wide campaign […]
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From scratch
Guadalupe Garcia has watched as his father Marcelino “Chelino” Garcia has built Oklahoma City’s largest network of Mexican restaurants, which now total 14 in the metro area. Growing up, Guadalupe remembers the first menu at the now-shuttered original Robinson Avenue location and how it differs from the menu that drove its expansion. “Back in the […]
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Not just waffles
Since Todd Woodruff opened the brick-and-mortar location of Waffle Champion in Midtown to long weekend brunch lines in 2013, he has heard from people that there needs to be another location. They’ll get their wish, but not until after Woodruff and his Day One Concepts team finishes a nearly yearlong stretch that saw him open […]