Wendy Lopez, who opened the Spanish restaurant Tapa Toro as executive chef three and a half years ago, is leaving to assume the executive chef position at Reyes Mezcalaria in Orlando’s North Quarter district.
Francisco Galeano, who goes by Frank, and who has been serving as Tapa Toro’s chef de cuisine, has been promoted to executive chef, according to owner Katerina Coumbaros. “Frank has been an instrumental part of our culinary team since opening our doors,” Coumbaros said in a statement, “and will continue to inspire Tapa Toro’s kitchen and menu moving forward.”
To accentuate that Lopez’s leaving is amicable, she and Coumbaros told SJO the news in a conference call Wednesday afternoon. Lopez’s resignation from Tapa Toro is effective Oct. 2.
Lopez, whose heritage is Mexican, said she was excited to be moving to Reyes where she can present traditional Mexican cuisine. She said that she was grateful for the time she had working at Tapa Toro and with Galeano.
