Cocina 214 in Winter Park

The Winter Park dining scene is about to experience exceptional Tex-Mex, bold flavors and creative cooking techniques with the opening of COCINA|214.

The restaurant will celebrate its grand opening - fittingly - on Cinco de Mayo.

COCINA|214 customers will find contemporary Mexican and Tex-Mex dishes unique to Central Florida.

As the COCINA|214 business partners traveled throughout the country, they were reminded of the lack of authentic Mexican and quality Tex-Mex food in the Orlando area. Unable to find these bold flavors they enjoyed elsewhere, they decided to create their own concept in Winter Park - the result is COCINA|214.

Executive chef, Francisco Mendonça, known as "Chef Chico," will bring an international cooking background to COCINA|214 by infusing European flair into an authentic, yet innovative, Mexican menu.

"Cocina 214 will offer guests a completely unique experience," said Mendonça. "Our favorite dishes infuse classical French cooking into Mexican and Tex-Mex cuisine, to bring a whole new taste to the region."

COCINA|214's signature dishes include:
• Carne Picante - diced Filet Mignon seasoned with garlic, onion, tomato, cumin and Negra Modelo.
• Camarão Con Piri-Piri - fried Rock Shrimp flavored with grilled lemon and served with piri-piri sauce on the side.
• Atun Crudo - thinly-sliced Ahi tuna served with jalapeño yuzu vinaigrette and cucumber mango slaw.
• Street Tacos - chile rubbed skirt steak seared with onion, cilantro, de arbol and roasted garlic salsa.
Customers will also find exceptional Tex-Mex including: fajitas, enchiladas, nachos and quesadillas - created in COCINA|214's healthy and flavorful signature style.

The restaurant is dedicated to using sustainable purveyors and ocean-friendly seafood whenever possible, such as Mahi-Mahi, Yellowtail Snapper and Tuna.

COCINA|214 will offer guests daily specials, a fully-stocked bar, patio seating, a large private dining room with seating for up to 60 guests, all in a family friendly environment.

"We saw an opportunity in Central Florida for a chef-driven contemporary Mexican and Tex-Mex restaurant, so we have created COCINA|214,'' said Russ Greer, managing parhttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.giftner of the Cocina 214 ownership group. "Chico's dishes will provide a unique array of spices and flavors, in a beautiful, contemporary setting with a staff dedicated to quality customer service."

COCINA|214 is located at 151 Welbourne Ave. East (directly behind Williams-Sonoma). The 8,220 square foot building will seat 171 people. Cocina 214 will be open seven days a week, offering lunch and dinner, with complementary valet parking for dinner. You can contact COCINA|214 by phone at 407-790-7997 or on the web at cocina214.com. For the latest news on Cocina 214 follow us on Facebook and Twitter.