Well, it’s official! The rumor that Chef Art Smith is opening a restaurant is Disney Springs has been confirmed at last!
Earlier this summer, Chef Art Smith (BBQ Pitmaster Judge, author of Art Smith’s Healthy Comfort and other cookbooks, founder of Art and Soul in Washington, D.C. and Table Fifty-Two in Chicago, and former Chef to Oprah Winfrey), posted a message on his Facebook page stating that Chef Art’s Florida Fish Camp would be coming to Disney Springs. However, that post was quickly deleted, and we’ve been wondering about possibilities for his upcoming venture ever since.
Chef Art Smith
The originally proposed name of the restaurant has changed and the spot will now be called Homecoming: Florida Kitchen and Southern Shine.
The name is inspired by the fact that Chef Smith is a Floridian, raised in Jasper, Florida (his family still lives and runs their farm there). Not only that, but the Chef — a former student of Florida State University — even completed a Culinary Internship with the Walt Disney World College Program!
©Disney
The menu for this “rustic-chic” restaurant will emphasize the southern-based “farm-to-fork” cuisine that Chef Smith is known for. Look for Church Lady Deviled Eggs, homemade Pimento Cheese, a Grilled Blackstrap Pork Chop with Sawmill Gravy (count me in!), Low Country Shrimp and Grits, and Kale Salad with Sweet Grass Dairy Cheese and Spiced Pecans. Dessert options will include cakes such as the Mockingbird Cake (the restaurant’s signature dessert), pies, and sweets that will be made daily and shipped directly from a Hamilton County bakery.
The Chef shares that “each dish has a little Florida twist and makes guests feel like they’re on the back porch with me for every meal.” Guests will be able to enjoy watching the chefs in action thanks to a glass-walled show kitchen as well as enjoy a specialty cocktail at the Souther Shine Bar, which will give a nod to “an era where characters might have created some homegrown spirits on their homesteads just beyond the springs.”
Sounds good to me! How about you 🙂 ?
What do you think of the latest Disney Springs dining announcement? Please let us know with a comment!
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Not sure I would list anything involving kale as a “signature dish”….but a Florida-based comfort food joint sounds interesting if not counter-intuitive
I wonder what a “mockingbird” cake is??? I know what a hummingbird cake is and it’s awesome!
Hope they really do something cool with this restaurant.
Menu sounds great!!!!wonder where it will be ?
This will be a great addition to Disney Springs. Art’s food is so good and brings the flavor s of Florida Home, something to look forward to enjoy.
Chef Art Smith has inspired and encouraged those with whom he has come in contact. He was a student at North Florida Junior College in Madison, Florida; his legacy remains an inspiration as well as a challenge.
Jim Catron, Mayor
Madison
Excited about this new restaurant. Does anyone know if it will be included on the dining plan, if so will it be 1 or 2? Also, when will they start taking reservations for this new restaurant?
Our daughter, Lindsey Gillan, works at Art Smith’s new “Homecoming” and has proclaimed its excellent cuisine and specialty “shine” cocktails.