Openings
Barry Williams and Koming Suryani, owners of Bali Express, a Balinese food truck, teamed up with Adam Jimenez and Sarah Reynosa, owners of Fuego Street Tacos, formerly located in Reno Public Market, and rented a space that was formerly a Johnny Rockets. Their restaurant, Fuego and Bali, at 4600 Snyder Ave., Suite B, in Carson City, held its grand opening and ribbon cutting on Oct. 22. (“We won four restaurant awards before we even had a restaurant,” said Williams, explaining how the food truck rose to quick success after it opened in 2023.) The retro diner decor remains, with street tacos and other Mexican favorites available from one end of the counter, and Balinese/Indonesian dishes like beef rendang and spicy lemongrass shrimp at the other end. Visit baliexpressrestaurant.com and fuegostreettacos.com.
New bar Barrel & Bine opened on Nov. 8 in the space formerly occupied by The Growler Guys at 7530 Longley Lane, No. 106, in Reno. “We’re utilizing the existing draft system, and we’re selling cocktails on draft and beer on draft,” said co-owner Ken Hotchkiss, who previously owned Capitol Beer and Tap Room in Sacramento. Hotchkiss said of the beer menu, “We like to have a lager, a hefeweizen, something malty, something hoppy, something hazy, a wide variety, not ‘IPA only.’ It’s a balanced list.” A short food menu features items like chopped salad, tomato soup, and bar snacks including deviled eggs with bacon, pickled red onion and chives. Sunday happy hour, during which all drinks are $2 off, lasts all day. Find @barrelandbine775 on Instagram or Barrel & Bine on Facebook to learn more.
Closing
Great Basin Community Food Co-op closed its Foodshed Cafe in November, citing reduced traffic resulting from the ongoing Arlington Avenue Bridges Project. According to Nov. 9 social media posts, both the co-op and the cafe experienced 20%-plus declines in sales after the Arlington Bridge was closed in May, cutting off travel on Arlington Avenue, the closest main street. The co-op’s grocery store will remain open at 240 Court St., where soups, baked goods and other grab-and-go options are still available.
Event
The Wedge Ceramics Studio, at 2095 Dickerson Road, in Reno, is hosting its 15th annual Chili Cash and Carry holiday shopping event from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 13 and 14. A handmade ceramic bowl costs $35, and the price includes a serving of chili and cornbread from Bone Appetit BBQ. Proceeds will benefit the studio. Other ceramic kitchenware and artwork will be available for sale, as well. Learn more at www.thewedgeceramics.com.
News
Great Basin Brewing Co.’s Red Nose Holiday Wassail earned a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival, which took place in Denver Oct. 9-11. “The Great American Beer Festival is one of the ‘Big Two’ beer competitions in the world, with more than 9,000 entries from breweries across the country,” according to a press release. Brewmaster Aaron Halecky called the wassail “a fun, evolving tradition where every year brings a new recipe. Over the years, previous brewers at Great Basin have added their own touch with different spices and fruits.” This award-winning brew is available on tap and in cans at all Great Basin locations in Reno, Sparks, Carson City and Minden. It is not available in stores.
Two other local breweries also earned medals in the Great American Beer Festival competition. Schussboom Brewing Co.’s Tripel Cork, a Belgian-Style Tripel, and Parlay 6 Brewing Co.’s Coconut Mafia stout each earned a bronze.
10 Torr Distilling and Brewing issued a new, limited release spirit, Reserve Rum With the Big Dogs, on Nov. 21. The release was in collaboration with Washoe County K9 Partners, a nonprofit group that helps the region’s law enforcement dogs with equipment, training and medical needs. 10 Torr will donate $5 from each sale to the group. The rum is not being distributed in stores and is available only at 10 Torr, 490 Mill St., in Reno, while supplies last.
Have local food, drink or restaurant news? Email foodnews@renonr.com.