Restaurant news: Thai-style rolled ice cream coming to Fort Myers; 4 new restaurants open

It's been called rolled ice cream and even stir-fried ice cream. Videos of this unique frozen treat — made by pouring liquid ice-cream base onto a flash freezing anti-griddle, mixing it with toppings and carefully scraping it into fanciful rolls — started popping up on social media in 2015. But the dish originated years before at street stalls in Southeast Asia. 

And it's coming soon to the Fort Myers area. 

Ice Spot is slated to open in August at Bell Tower Shops in south Fort Myers, offering customized rolled ice cream bowls made right before your eyes. The shop is taking over unit 101 in the mall, a narrow space between Daruma and The Walking Company on the northeast side of the shopping center. 

“There literally are hundreds of flavor combinations, fillers and toppings, so our ice cream selection is highly customizable,” Ice Spot owner Jason Dao said in a press release.

“It’s always exciting to watch children and first-time guests react to seeing their order transform from a liquid to a solid within a minute.”

Ice Spot will also serve boba teas, the Taiwanese-inspired drinks laced with chewy tapioca balls. The new concept joins Dave & Buster's, which opened at Bell Tower in March, and the new Burntwood Tavern which will debut in the former longtime Cru space on the south side of the mall later this year. 

As consumers increasingly turn to online shopping, malls such as Bell Tower have had to adapt. The south Fort Myers plaza is wrapping up a more than year-long renovation to its 343,000-square-foot space. The new look is meant to make Bell Tower an experience, to offer visitors things to do, see and taste that can't be done online. 

Ice Spot is one of 10 restaurants and food-service venues at the shops. 

“While our restaurants serve a variety of desserts and pastries, Ice Spot is both an ice cream parlor and an attraction,” Bell Tower marketing manager Shannon Palzer said.

“It adds yet another element in Bell Tower’s evolution from an upscale shopping center into a community hub for shopping, dining and entertainment.”

For more on Ice Spot visit facebook.com/icespotbelltower. 

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Tyler Florence eats Fort Myers

Fort Myers' own episode of "The Extra Mile" from celebrity chef Tyler Florience is now streaming on IGTV on Instagram. The five-minute episode showcases doughnuts from Bennett's Fresh Roast in Fort Myers, whole-fried snapper from Dixie Fish Co. on Fort Myers Beach, chicken and waffles from Fancy's Southern Cafe in south Fort Myers, and gator ribs from Gatorama in Palmdale. Watch the show by visiting @foodnetwork on Instagram and clicking on the image of Fancy's waffles.

Florence and his production company filmed the social-media series in late April when he was in town with his other Food Network production, "The Great Food Truck Race." For "The Extra Mile," Florence takes viewers to local favorites, highlighting independent restaurants that celebrate artisan, from-scratch cooking. Florence seemed to like his trip through Southwest Florida. "Who wouldn't want to get lost here?" he said during the show.  "This is paradise."

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Little bites

Premier Poke has opened at 13401 Summerlin Road No. 7 in the Publix-anchored plaza at the corner of Summerlin and Cypress Lake Drive in south Fort Myers. In addition to Hawaiian-style poke bowls ($10.99), Premier offers customized ramen bowls ($9.99) and bubble teas. The restaurant is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Tuesdays to Thursdays, 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, noon-9 p.m. Sundays and is closed Mondays. Call 239-245-7242 for more. 

Crazy Dingo Brewing Co. held its grand opening Saturday at Southern Fresh Farms in south Fort Myers. The local brewery has held events at the farm in the past, but now it is a permanent fixture. Crazy Dingo is currently open noon-9 p.m. Saturdays only at 8500 Penzance Blvd.; call 239-768-0309 or visit crazydingobrewing.com for more. 

El Meson Latin Cusine has moved from Bonita Springs to North Fort Myers. The restaurant, which briefly operated on Bonita Beach Road, has reopened in the Publix-anchored plaza at 4085 Hancock Bridge Parkway. El Meson offers a mix of Cuban, Mexican and American dishes for lunch and dinner, along with a full bar and a 21-and-older night-club experience after 9 p.m. featuring VIP seating and late-night bottle service, according to its website. El Meson is open daily starting at 11 a.m. Call 239-471-7881 or visit elmesonlatincuisine.com for more. 

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Weavers Deli opened under new ownership on Monday, according to its Facebook page. Find it in the Weavers Corner Shopping Center at 1886 N. Tamiami Trail, North Fort Myers; call 239-997-3354 or visit facebook.com/weaversdeli for more. 

Starbucks Coffee Co. leased 2,200 square feet of retail space at the Cross Trails Shopping Center at 1001 S. Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda from Benderson Development Co. Michael Daly of LandQwest Commercial represented the tenant. 

Fat Point brews for veterans

Fat Point Brewing Co. is honoring veterans by donating 100 percent of sales of its new lavender and blackberry firkin beer to the Veterans Initiative for Therapeutic Arts, which helps veterans overcome trauma by engaging them in creative writing, music and visual arts.

Fat Point is also brewing a special Patriotic Pale Ale with the charity group. 

“Our veterans have sacrificed so much to keep us safe. After all they’ve done for us and our nation, it feels good to be able to help serve them as well,” head brewer Jessy Abbate said in a press release.

“When we had the chance to give back this Fourth of July, we didn’t think twice.” 

Conditioned with lavender and blackberries, the limited-edition firkin beer is available now. The collaboration Patriotic Pale Ale will be available by mid-July. Find Fat Point at 611 Charlotte St., Punta Gorda; call 941-347-7208 or visit fatpoint.com for more. 

A La Carte is a free, editorial compilation of news and notes from the Southwest Florida food scene. Send info to taste@news-press.com for possible inclusion. Connect with this reporter: @abellewrites (Instagram).