"Junk Food" debuts at Joystick tonight

Pork Puffed Rice "Junk Food"

Following the success of Illegal Food, the new incarnation of the "Kitchen Incubation Program" at Joystick Gamebar debuts tonight at 5 p.m. when chef Joey Zelinka takes over to present his ongoing "Junk Food" menu.

A Florida native, Zelinka, has cooked at OLA Miami, Rathbuns, 4th and Swift and Sound Table. The inspiration for Junk Food is “all of the food you loved as a child elevated to culinary art,” he says.

Think braised oxtail, beer mustard and roasted leeks on potato chip taco shells with fermented Fresno chile hot sauce.

Or Carolina Gold puffed rice and tonkatsu sauce-braised pork belly with baby carrots, peas, pickled bean sprouts, scallions, and mini Japanese omelettes.

It doesn't really sound like junk food, does it?

"Kevin Rathbun was a big mentor of mine, as was Jay Swift," Zelinka says. "The biggest thing with them is the fundamentals, and making sure food is seasoned properly. But I'm still finding myself as a chef, I think.