Rococo's original gangsta headed up new Avenue

Or is it now merely a Venue?

North Pennsylvania Avenue’s newest vendor is an avenue unto itself, but for decades it was a restaurant specializing in pasta and seafood.

The Oklahoma City University neighborhood relied on Tony’s Italian Specialties to deliver mile-high platters of pasta on red-and-white-checked tablecloths for more than three decades before turning the keys over to chef Bruce Rinehart’s Rococo in 2004. At his little island on Pennsylvania and NW 28th Street, pasta got a little fancier, the wine list improved and the crabcakes to flow.

But now the longtime restaurant space, is a venue. Pronounced “avenue” but spelled aVenue, the new concepts spins the space toward special events. During the pandemic, Rococo contracted from two restaurants to one, docking its flagship location, formerly at Northpark Mall), on Western Avenue.

At that time, the original Rococo stopped meal service to become the catering arm of the restaurant with a special events option.

After a couple hours of carnival atmosphere, including boozy snow cones from Wanderfolk Spirits and beer from Lively, the Rineharts gathered in front of where the old fish tank once stood and unveiled the new sign.

aVenue will is just that, and is looking to host anything from pop-ups to private dinners and plenty of rehearsal dinners and banquets in between. Signage hasn’t changed yet, but you can book events by clicking here.

Congrats to the Rineharts and the entire aVenue staff.

Chefs Fest token deets and last call for volunteers

It’s Chefs Fest week!

That’s right, Chefs Fest 2023 begins Saturday morning at Super Cao Nguyen Market, and tomorrow we will release the full schedule with chef assignments.

There is no admission price to enter the event, but you can purchase the $5 tokens you’ll need to purchase food and merchandise. Here’s a link to the presale shop. This year’s sponsors include Sun Noodle company, Sapporo USA, Thirst Wine Merchants, Yeo’s USA and Premium Brands Wine & Liquor.

Each of them will have a presence at Chefs Fest. Sun Noodle will provide noodles all day for chefs, Jeff Chanchaleune, and Rachel Foster. Sapporo will have samples and Orion Beer will have a booth. There will be free Yeo’s beverages available throughout the day.

We are also finalizing our team of volunteers. If you’d like a free T-shirt, free food tokens and a place to park, join our volunteer team. Email me or leave a comment for a volunteer packet and a link to our Sign Up Genius page. Newsletter subscribers will have first access to the 30-plus slots we have available. The Sign Up Genius goes public on Wednesday, so email for your information packet today.

Chefs Fest will lead into a couple of other cool events in the Asian District on Saturday. Night two of the Asian Night Market Festival begins at 5 p.m. at Military Park. Jenny Nguyen’s new restaurant Bun Box, is launching that night with an opening event, featuring celebrity chef Danny Bowien. Danny promises to come hang out at Chefs Fest, too.

More details tomorrow along with the full schedule.

Mucho Gusto!

You can prepare for Chefs Fest by supporting two of Chefs Fest alums, Kurt Fleischfresser and Kathryn Mathis. Kurt is the official mentor chef of Chers Fest, and Kathryn participated in the preceding three (see above photo). On Tuesday, Mathis turns her Pizzeria Gusto wood-burning oven over to The Big Kahuna. Fleischfresser will serve a special menu from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. in the Uptown pizzeria. Make reservations here.

Look for more events in Monday’s Food Dood Feed communique.

Stay hungry.