FOOD NEWS
Last month, popular V.M. taco spot Rene’s Mexican Kitchen was heavily damaged in a fire due to issues with a circuit breaker, and since then the community has been rallying to help owner Rene Valenzuela get back to business. On Friday, Nov. 6 Spaddy’s Coffee Co. in Seminole Heights will host a massive fundraiser for Rene’s, with free food and drinks from a roster of beloved local businesses, including sliders from Burger Spot, Italian sausages from Boozy Pig, donuts from Supernatural, brews from Magnanimous Brewing and more. – Colin Wolf
Seminole Heights BBQ spot Wicked Oak will be on Guy Fieri’s ‘Diner, Drive-ins and Dives’ next week
Wicked Oak Barbeque is getting the Guy Fieri treatment. The popular Seminole Heights spot, located at 6607 N Florida Ave., announced on social media yesterday that it will be featured on Food Network’s “Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.” “We’ve been keeping a bit of a secret y’all. Wicked Oak is going to be featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives!,” wrote founder and owner Felix “Bubba” Flores. “It was an honor to have Guy Fieri in the Wicked Oak kitchen and we can’t wait for y’all to see what we cooked up for him.” The episode will air on Food Network next Friday, Nov. 6, at 9 p.m. Featuring signature eats like loaded mac and cheese, BBQ fries and nachos, pulled chicken and pork sandwiches and more, Wicked Oak has seen a lot of momentum since it first opened in 2020, securing a Best of the Bay Reader’s Choice award for “Best Ribs” in 2021, launching a new food truck in 2023 and landing a vendor spot at Benchmark International Arena. – Colin Wolf
St. Pete’s iconic Coney Island Sandwich Shop has been closed for years, now it’s available for lease
After first opening in 1926, the Barlas family permanently closed Coney Island Sandwich Shop in response to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021. Since then, there have been a couple attempts to re-open the iconic restaurant, but now the Barlas family is ready to become landlords and give someone else a shot. Located at 250 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. St. N, the 2,080-square-foot space is currently available for lease, with an asking price of $40 a square-foot per year (or roughly $6,933 a month), says the listing. According to the listing, the owners restaurant has spent roughly $150,000 to get the space up to code, as well as new renovations, including two new ADA restrooms with ADA fixtures, new flooring, plumbing and electric. – Colin Wolf
Weekend Food & Drink Events Oct. 30-Nov. 5
Rooted in Flavor: A Venezuelan Pairing Dinner Thursday, Oct. 29. 6 p.m. $150. Sal Y Mar Rooftop Bar, Tampa. eventbrite.com
Lunch in the Gardens — Fall 2026 Thursday, Oct. 29. 11 a.m. $175 & up. Marie Selby Botanical Gardens, Sarasota
Night Out Cooking Class – Italiano Moderno: Italian Elegance Thursday, Oct. 29. 6 p.m. $95. Foodie Labs, St. Petersburg. thefoodielabskitchen.com
Beer 101: From Hops to Glass Friday, Oct. 30. 6 p.m. $55 & up. Savoir on Central, St. Petersburg. savoironcentral.com
Food Truck Block Party Friday, Oct. 30. 5:30 p.m. No cover. Chapel By The Sea, Clearwater Beach. chapelbythesea.net
Science After Dark – Chemistry Uncorked Thursday, Nov. 5. 6 p.m. $35 & up. Mosi, Tampa. mosi.org
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This article appears in Oct. 29 – Nov. 04, 2026.
