Fabulous Food Trucks & More

Food trucks. We’ve seen them on corners and sometimes in the most unlikely places. Years back, some would frown upon them. Turn the clocks forward, though, and not only are they flourishing, but they’ve also become a claim to fame for some locals. Ocala’s Rashad Jones went from food truck to Food Network and still operates Big Lee’s Serious About Barbecue, 304-9105, from a food truck. Dunnellon’s Angela Branton-Boone has kept the mobile business and also operates a successful restaurant, Angie B’s Southern Palate, 462-7152. Ocala’s Mike Batte of Turnpike Mike’s Bistro, 237-8460, who outgrew his food truck, has opened his own four-wall restaurant and is now opening a second one in Rainbow Springs Golf & Country Club in Dunnellon.

The latest success story is Lori Frazee, who has been operating a food truck in Dunnellon on Hwy. 41 for the past two years. This food competitor has been on the Travel Channel’s “American Grilled” and Food Network’s “Chopped” and has won national and local awards for her barbecue skills. Her dessert, Bacon White Chocolate Bread Pudding, won The Golden Ticket award at the World Food Championships.

Now Frazee is moving from food truck to Rainbow Lakes Boulevard in a place that has housed several restaurants, the last being Trina’s Hungry Turtle, which has no affiliation with Frazee’s new restaurant, Barn Goddess BBQ & Grill, (352) 566-4033.

“We’re not just barbecue,” she says. “We have a fantastic 80/20 fresh, ground chuck burger.”

Frazee plans to open in March and will be serving breakfast, lunch, and dinner. See her Facebook page for hours, menu, and more. You may even come across her instructional cooking videos in your search!

Golabki, pierogies, kielbasa, bigos, beef goulash, zurek soup, and country-style Polish ribs. We now have a taste of Poland in Ocala at Aneta’s Bistro, (352) 644-6060, on Pine Avenue. Not sure what to choose when you get there? Try their Polish Platter. See Anita Stanicki’s Facebook page and the pictures will thoroughly convince you to head over there now! But please finish this column first.

Another Roadhouse is coming to town, Texas Roadhouse that is. There’s some kind of connection with that word and peanut shells on the floor, letting grownups feel like kids again. It will be at the northwest corner of the Paddock Mall. This chain is also known for their aged, hand-cut steaks. No local phone number yet.

Also coming soon is Keke’s Breakfast Café on SW 27th Avenue in the old Cici’s Pizza location. Serving breakfast and lunch, all Keke’s are open from 7:00am-2:30pm. For a taste preview, visit the Lady Lake location on Hwy. 441.

If you travel West SR200, you may have seen the large sign indicating “Pie-O-Mine Coming Soon” to the Market Street at Heathbrook. A New York-based restaurant that has just begun and has already spread to Ohio is now coming to Florida. This company prides itself on fresh pizza ingredients and custommade salads.

Tidbits: Many will be happy to know that Pho Kim Long, 236-5791, the Vietnamese restaurant that closed on Pine Avenue about two years ago, is re-opening on SR200 near Ollie’s Bargain Barn. The old site of the Ocala/Marion County Chamber of Commerce will soon be known as the Hilton Garden Inn, a project of Danny Gaekwad’s that will include rooms to rent, 10 residential units, retail shops, and three restaurants. Formaggio Pizza and Italian Restaurant, 509-3661, has moved into the old Schnitzel Factory building. The Tilted Kilt is now O’Calahan’s Pub & Eatery, 351- 5458. Crispers is now J&C Crab-Juicy Seafood.

More restaurants are coming! See you next time.

Got A Hot Tip For The Cuisine Queen? E-mail me at paula@ocalasgoodlife.com