LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. (March 17, 2009) -- Chef Cat Cora and Disney are joining together to open an exciting new family dining restaurant at Disney’s BoardWalk Resort. Kouzzina by Cat Cora will feature a menu of Mediterranean-style cuisine that pays tribute to the chef’s Greek roots.

The restaurant, to be owned and operated by Disney, is scheduled to open by fall 2009 in the space currently occupied by Spoodles.

As a Mississippi native born to a family of Greek restaurateurs, Cora grew up immersed in two different and flavorful cultures , and has taken from that unique background the kitchen “know-how” handed down through generations. The cuisine at Kouzzina (Greek for “kitchen” and pronounced “koo-zee-nah”) will showcase Mediterranean cuisine and Chef Cora’s philosophy to create simple yet sensational meals.

Cora said that the new restaurant will feature “time-honored recipes passed down from my ancestors, as well as my favorite Greek and Mediterranean dishes that my family loves.”

She began working with Disney in 2008 by creating a Disney Video on Demand series to showcase ways to help families develop more healthy eating habits. “I’m extremely excited about this latest extension of my relationship with Disney,” she said. “Together, we’re going to develop a truly amazing contemporary Mediterranean restaurant.”

The first and only female Iron Chef on Food Network's hit show “Iron Chef America,” Cora is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America in New York. She also is Executive Chef for Bon Appétit magazine. In addition to hosting the instructional cooking demonstrations for Disney Video on Demand, Cora has been a featured chef at the Epcot International Food & Wine Festival and at Disney’s California Food & Wine Festival at Disneyland Resort.

What does "family dining" mean, exactly?

Is Spoodles considered NOT "family dining" the way it is now?

Does anyone know what this means?

Wait.. so when is Spoodles closing??

What will happen to the pizza window?

There wasn't any official word on the closing date, but previously there had been a refurbishment of the Spoodles kitchen announced for May 11-23, if I remember correctly. I took it off of the refurb list because it was delayed. I wonder if this could have been the reason for the delay.

Hmm.. Well I hope it's still open when I am down there in June because we are planning on eating there

From what I've read, Spoodles is still open until .

BellTinkR - In answer to your question (and this is my opinion only), Spoodles is a family dining restaurant but I think what they meant was that since they are closing Spoodles, Kouzzina will also be a family dining restaurant (in Disney terms, family dining just means a restaurant where you can bring your whole family).

Ok, so I'm a little late to the game on this one, but I can't wait to see this place open. I have never eaten at Spoodles, but I think that it is a great thing that Disney was able to bring a world class chef to the Boardwalk.

Spoodles will not be serving breakfast from July 1 through mid-August. Boardwalk guests can instead find breakfast at Flying Fish Cafe from 7:30-11:00 a.m.

Dinner at Spoodles from July 6-August 1 will be a buffet instead of ala carte. From August 2 through mid-August, dinner will not be served while Kouzzina is installed.

Thanks for letting us know. I'll be crossing this one off my list of maybe restaurants. Funny I was just making my list this morning and added this one. I hope the new restaurant will be great.

Thanks for the update Tim!

I've never eaten at Spoodles so this isn't really upsetting news for me.

Can't wait for the Cat!!

I KNOW! I will HAVE to to visit this one! I am an Iron Chef Addict!

Does anyone know whether it will be a DDP location - maybe so since Spoodles was.