Scallywag Journeys - Tampa Bay and Beyond

Bern's Steak House - Hyde Park, FL

2012-01-19T20:09:00.003-05:00

Disappointment is what I experienced after a trip to Bern's, and I felt reminded a bit of the children's story the "Emperor's New Clothes." Yes, there is red velvet everywhere, but I found the lack of windows a bit claustrophobic and the way diners were packed in there, it was hard to hear each other at our table. It looked more like mess hall for young recruits, and it is not a good pick for something intimate like a date. As for our server, I felt he was rude to us in a subtle way, as well as to the busgirl. Another thing I noticed was the servers appeared to be men over the age of fifty(not anything wrong with the age, but I didn't see a representation of younger people or women servers).

Now, on to the drinks and food. Yes, Bern's has a humongous wine list, but a smaller and more select wine list, especially for the wines by the glass, might be in order. We tried two different reds and two different whites from France, which were nice, except I could not tell the difference in serving temperature between the red and white(the whites were both served at room temperature). We started off with caviar and an order of potato blinis, which was nice. Next, we tried the french onion soup and the lobster bisque, both of which were nice, but nothing exceptional. Then, we tried the salad which had a lot of different vegetables and that was good, but unless you are wild about salad, why not save room for the main course because that salad was almost a meal in itself. Finally, the entrees arrived. First, there was the porterhouse steak which is served with steakhouse onion rings, vegetables, and a baked potato with fixings. The steak was fine, but not the out of this world steak experience that I was expecting. The onion rings tasted fine, but I would not suggest more than a taste because they were rich and made to kill the appetite when eating steak. The presentation of the food was blah, which I don't mind if the food can stand by itself, but nothing was exceptional. Wanting to see how Bern's non-steak entrees stood up, I also tried the charcoal grilled wild salmon and the yellowtail snapper a la plancha. Of the two fish dishes, I preferred the salmon and felt the snapper was boring.

Finally, the dessert, which deserves its own paragraph because this was my favorite part of Bern's. Each dining party is given their own little room with a table in the dessert room upstairs. There, you can experience the intimacy missing in the downstairs dining rooms. Order your favorite after dinner drink and pick a dessert from their large dessert menu. We ordered the macadamia nut sundae, for which they are famous, and the chocolate cake Jones. Both desserts were very good, and if I could have skipped the whole downstairs dining experience and just came for dessert, that would have suited me fine. All in all, try Bern's once to see how you feel about this landmark steakhouse, but it would not be a place I would go for a special or intimate event.

Bern's Steak House

1208 South Howard Avenue

Hyde Park, FL 33606

813-251-2421

Wine Exchange - Hyde Park(Tampa), FL

2012-01-13T20:16:00.004-05:00

A beautiful, crisp January evening, and it seemed like the perfect time to head over to Tampa and try the Wine Exchange Restaurant. Approaching the restaurant at night, it was beautiful to look in at, with the huge windows throwing light onto the sidewalk outside. Inside, the first thing I noticed was the wine racks and a tiny bit of space giving a nod to the Gasparilla Pirate and tons of bead necklaces. After that, I gave my appreciation to the beautiful bar backed with a lot of mirrors and a back wall hung with funky abstract art. There was a choice of dining outside on the enclosed patio, or inside. We decided to dine inside as we really liked the vibe surrounding the bar.

First, to the wine menu, where you can buy by the glass or bottle. The white and red wines by the glass are ranged from light to rich and bold. I am going to say this straight out that they do an excellent job of choosing the wines they serve by the glass. We tried two different whites and three different reds, between us, and every single one of them were good. Usually, wines by the glass can be hit and miss, but not so here, which was great for us. For food, we started with the lobster cakes served with a mango aioli and I have to say I would go back for them alone, so I would recommend them as a must try. After that, we tried the special of the night, which was a New York Strip pepper steak served with mashed potatoes and broccoli. Also, I ordered the spinach ravioli off the regular menu, to which I added salmon. Both choices were very good, but I still had my mind on that delicious lobster cake. My son ordered a basic cheese pizza, which was not one of their pizza choices, but they were very accommodating and able to make that for him, which made him a happy camper. To round out the meal, for dessert we tried the Chocolate Bomb, which was a cake topped with a layer of chocolate and white mousse and covered in a chocolate shell. Also, we tried the baklava cheesecake. Both were excellent. Finally, I have to give a hats off to the service there, which was very attentive without being overbearing and made for a pleasant dining experience. In summary, great wine, food, and service!

Wine Exchange

1609 Snow Avenue

Tampa, FL 33606

813-254-9463

Frida's Cafe & Bakery - Largo, FL

2012-01-07T11:07:00.005-05:00

I have my regular weekday coffee place to get my coffee and morning sweet fix, but one day I decided to take a little trip to mix my weekday routine up a bit. With that in mind, I headed over to Frida's. Stepping in the door, the cafe was nothing fancy, but that didn't matter, as my eyes were drawn to the big bakery case filled with all sorts of delectable looking bakery items.

Behind the bakery display case there were racks filled with donuts and other goodies. I wasn't sure what to pick at first, as there were too many things to pick from, but my eyes were drawn to a small cheesecake dessert. This yummy sweet was surrounded by almonds and topped with raspberry jam and an almond paste that was baked, so that it had a delicate crispy crust. I was very happy with my selection. They offer regular coffee and espresso drinks. I ordered a latte, but I think I would have been better off with a regular coffee, as the latte was just so-so. Besides sweets, they also offer breakfast and lunch. This was quite a trek for me to go to on a regular basis, but if I wanted to pick up some elegant and tasty desserts to take home, this would be a first pick for me.

Frida's Cafe & Bakery

9700 Ulmerton Road

Largo, FL 33771

727-587-7077

White Horse Pub - Sarasota, FL

2012-01-02T15:32:00.002-05:00

The White Horse Pub is a lovely British Pub located in a strip mall in Sarasota, Florida. Don't let the strip mall deter you from visiting, because once inside it has the cozy feel that one likes in a British pub. We were there for the live guitar music performed by Duende; if you want to learn more about this awesome group, find out about it here. The White Horse is a sprawling restaurant with a small room where live music is performed, a separate bar area, another room with tables and chairs, and a pool table area. We grabbed a table with friends at one of the high topped bar tables, so we could see into the music room. We ordered a couple of British beers to get into the pub mood, and then checked out the menu. They offered meaty pasties, as well as vegetarian pasties, so we decided to go in that direction and found the pasties to be very good. Also delicious were the fries and onion rings. This was an awesome place and one that you want to visit again and again and bring your friends along!

White Horse Pub
6240 North Lockwood Ridge Road
Sarasota, FL 34243
941-358-1353

Venezia Restaurant - Sarasota, FL

2012-01-02T15:13:00.002-05:00

A sudden rain storm forced me to find shelter from the rain, when walking around Saint Armand's Circle in Sarasota. As I walked by the Venezia Restaurant with its large front windows, it looked like just the right kind of spot to escape from the rain. I picked one of the high topped bar tables facing the huge windows, so I could enjoy a glass of wine and watch the rainfall. The view was lovely inside with cool art all along one wall with a seemingly nice vibe. I ordered a glass of pinot grigio and bruschetta for an appetizer. I enjoyed the glass of wine, but the tomatoes for the bruschetta fell flat. The right combination of garlic, tomatoes, and basil were there, except the refrigerated tomatoes ruined it. You know how they always tell you not to refrigerate tomatoes because they get mushy, well that is what they did here. It was such a simple thing that was almost right, but that one important little thing made the difference. I would definitely give the place a try again if I am in Sarasota, but I would carefully consider the menu before ordering.

Venezia Restaurant
373 Saint Armand's Circle
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-388-1400

Le Macaron - St Armand's Circle, Sarasota, FL

2012-01-02T11:26:00.003-05:00

I made a stop at Le Macaron one afternoon to have a cappuccino and some macarons. Although this little shop is named Le Macaron, that is not the only thing they offer here. One can enjoy gelato, croissants, or a wonderful selection of handmade chocolates. I was impressed by the beautiful rows of macarons and my dilemma was what to pick from the assortment of jewel-like colors. Finally, I tried the Black current, the pistachio, the vanilla, and the Belgian dark chocolate. They were wonderfully light and crispy with a lovely, creamy filling. These went perfectly with my cappuccino. If you haven't tried a French Macaron, this is your chance.

Le Macaron

382 Saint Armand's Circle

Sarasota, FL 34236

941-552-8872

Star Keeper Cafe - Sarasota, FL

2012-01-02T11:09:00.003-05:00

I found time to try Star Keeper Cafe one evening for their Burgers and Live Music event that is held every Thursday evening, starting at 6:00 p.m. For $10 dollars you can get beer, a grilled burger, and corn on the cob. For $2 dollars more, make that a wine instead. If burgers are not your thing, you can get a grilled chicken sandwich or a Portobella mushroom sandwich. There is seating inside this hundred year old house that was converted into a cafe, or you can enjoy seating on the patio out back, especially nice when live music is playing, which was perfect for me. The burgers that came hot off the outdoor grill were wonderful and I loved the grilled corn on the cob. Try to save room for dessert because they offer some lovely homemade desserts. A cozy place to relax and enjoy tasty food.

Star Keeper Cafe

1734 Bamboo Lane

Sarasota, FL 34236

941-955-9434

San's Pizzeria, Tampa(Westchase), FL

2011-12-10T12:30:00.004-05:00

In the neighborhood, my family and I stopped in at San's Pizzeria to have some pizza. San's is a casual pizza joint and you can order a slice to go or sit down at a table or booth to enjoy your meal. Besides pizza you can also enjoy pasta, a Philly cheese steak, and wings, among other things. However, we were there to try the pizza, so that is what we ordered. Those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile know that we love to eat a basic cheese pizza and sometimes we will get fresh basil on top if they have it, which they did here. So after getting a glass of wine and a putting in our pizza order, we had a bit of a wait. The wait wasn't too long, but pushing close to the limit. The pizza arrived and we were impressed. It was a nice tender and crispy crust with a good sauce and we loved the melted cheese topped with basil. A good place to enjoy great pizza in a very casual environment.

San's Pizzeria

13048 Race Track Road

Tampa, FL 33626

813-855-7267

Burger 21 - Tampa(Westchase), FL

2011-12-10T11:45:00.003-05:00

After observing that Burger 21 has been the talk of the town forever, I decided it was time to pay a visit. When I first arrived there, I had a bit of a let down because I didn't realize that it was barely removed from being a fast food joint and it is part of a franchise with another location in Carrollwood. Instead of being seated, you place your order at the cash register and you are given a number that you insert into a placeholder, then your food is brought to you. I didn't let it faze me too much, though. We ordered our food, paid, and then grabbed a spot at the stools at the counter. While waiting for our food, I went to grab some ketchup. If you want something other than the usual to cover your sandwich with or dip your fries in, they had ordinary ketchup, mango ketchup, chipotle mayo, a spicy ketchup, among others.

The first thing to arrive was our chocolate shake and root beer float that we watched them make, while sitting at the counter. They were yummy and just the right thing to go along with our burgers. The next thing to come out were our basket of fries. They were good, but not the greatest and although we skipped the small and medium fries and ordered the basket, I thought it was rather small. One thing I wasn't happy about was that they brought the fries out to us before our burgers were done, so that by the time our burgers arrived, our fries were just about gone. For burgers, we tried "The Cheesy Burger," with cheddar cheese, minus the vegetables. The other burger we tried was "The Shroom," which was covered in crimini mushrooms, fontina cheese, and garlic butter. Both of the burgers were delicious and I loved the soft and toasted brioche bun that they were both served on. Both burgers were cooked as ordered and they were juicy and just awesome. A great burger alternative to mainstream fast food.

Burger 21

9664 West Linebaugh Avenue

Tampa, FL 33626

813-475-5921

Five Bucks Drinkery - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2011-12-03T01:10:00.010-05:00

The Five Bucks Drinkery is located right in the heart of downtown St Petersburg on Central Avenue. The name of this little spot says it all, in that nothing is over five dollars, which is great when you are on a budget. When I went there with my family, it was a bit quiet, and we were able to take our pick of seating at one of the bar tables inside. We ordered a couple of beers and were disappointed when our beers arrived in plastic glasses, which is part of their whole money saving theme. However, we did learn later on that you can get your beer in a real glass, but you have to ask, which we did after the first drink. For food we ordered some burger, fries, and tots. Each item is priced separately, which is probably what keeps the costs under five dollars. The burger was ok, but nothing exciting. Even so, this is not a bad place to hang out and have inexpensive drinks and food, especially when on a budget.

Five Bucks Drinkery

247 Central Avenue

Saint Petersburg, FL 33701

727-896-5118

Sweet Divas Chocolates - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2011-12-03T01:10:00.009-05:00

Sweet Divas is a wonderful addition to downtown St Petersburg, and I have already been there a number of times to partake of their delicious chocolate. I was told that they get their chocolate from Belgium that they use to make their chocolates, maybe that is why they taste so good. Not only do they have chocolate, they have an assortment of yummy cupcakes. There is a vanilla cupcake that I especially love that is covered with fudge frosting that has shavings of white chocolate all over it. Then, there is the muffins and if you come on the weekends, I believe they have some sort of muffin and mimosa special. Oops, did I forget to mention that they serve wine and champagne here? If you want to skip the wine, they serve coffee and tea. Finally, they have artisan ice cream that is out of this world. Sweet Divas is just off of Beach Drive on Fourth Avenue and you don't want to miss it!

Sweet Divas Chocolates

400 Beach Drive NE

St Petersburg, FL 33701

727-379-4567

Ohana Cafe - Palm Harbor, FL

2011-12-03T00:44:00.003-05:00

One Friday evening, my family and I headed over to Ohana Cafe in Palm Harbor to hear a friend, Rebecca Zapen sing. It was quite a hike over to Palm Harbor, but it was well worth it. The Ohana Cafe has a Hawaiian influenced theme going on and you will see that reflected in their food, as well as, the Hawaiian Hula dance that happens between the music performance on Friday and Saturday nights. We were lucky to get the last remaining table on the patio, so we could see the Hula dance and the music. As this was a chilly December evening in Florida, we were glad there was a covering over the patio, along with some gas heaters.

We were given a wine list that had quite a few organic wine offerings on the menu. After choosing drinks, we looked at the menu, which featured a variety of vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free options, along with options for meat eaters. We decided to order the Hawaii 5-0, which is a buffalo patty served on Ciabatta with cheese and a variety of toppings. Also, we ordered the Ohana's Kalua Chicken and cabbage served over rice and the very veggie omelette with home fries. The burger was delicious, but we didn't like the veggie straws that were served along with it. I liked the Ohana's Kalua Chicken with Chicken and cabbage, but I did add a little sriracha sauce to kick it up a little. The veggie omelette was very good, but on the small side. For dessert, we had to try the popover, which was covered with macadamia nut sauce. This was very good, and a great way to end the meal. I enjoyed our experience and it was nice to have a large selection of healthy dining options.

Ohana Cafe

306 Orange Street North

Palm Harbor, FL 34683

727-787-1234

Laughing Cat Bar - Ybor(Tampa), FL

2011-12-03T00:20:00.003-05:00

One Friday afternoon, my family and I decided to head to Laughing Cat Bistro for lunch. This restaurant is a friendly little place located just off the main drag in Ybor. Nothing fancy, just great food. We were quickly seated at a table and given a description of the wines. Then our server told us we had a choice of dining from the lunch buffet or from the dinner menu. I took a quick peek at the lunch buffet, which looked really good, and was very reasonable priced, but I decided I wanted to order from the dinner menu.

While waiting for our wines, we looked over the menu. We decided to start with an Eggplant Rollatini, which was eggplant wrapped around ricotta cheese and covered with a lovely tomato sauce. For our entrees, we chose the penne alla vodka and the farfalle al granchio, which was a crab and cream based sauce. While waiting for our food to come out, we were served with a huge basket of bread. Then, our appetizers and entrees came out and they were huge, but more importantly, delicious. The eggplant appetizer was great and by the time we were done with that, we were already full. Then the entrees arrived and they were just as good, but we could barely make a dent after the appetizer. However, this was fine as we had leftovers for lunch the next day. All during our meal the service was very attentive and we never lacked for anything. I would have liked to try dessert, but did I mention I was full?

Laughing Cat Bistro

1811 North 15th Street

Tampa, FL 33605

813-241-2998

Moscato's Bella Cucina - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2011-11-19T15:43:00.003-05:00

One Saturday afternoon, my family and I decided we wanted to try Moscato's for lunch. An art show was happening on Central Avenue, and Moscato's is located right on one of the blocks where the art show was happening, so we were expecting it to busy, and it was. Nevertheless, one of the tables were open, so we were able to get seated right away. Even though the place was hopping, our server wasn't too long in getting to us to take our drink order and she gave us the abridged menu that they were having for the art weekend. The menu had more than enough options and we decided to order Grandma's Pizza, which was a basic cheese pizza, and the cheese lasagna. While waiting for our food, we were given some bread and dipping oil, and the cheese lasagna came with a nice side salad with cucumbers, almonds, tomatoes, and cranberries. After that, it was a bit of a wait, but it was pretty much what we had expected after eating at another restaurant during last year's art show. Our food arrived and we were very happy with everything. The pizza was a nice sized rectangle with a lovely thick crust, a rich tomato sauce, and a generous cheesy topping. Everything turned out wonderful and I would not hesitate to pay a visit again.

Moscato's Bella Cucina

449 Central Avenue

St Petersburg, FL 33701

727-322-4313

The Avenue Eatery - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2011-11-19T15:26:00.008-05:00

Driving down 2nd Avenue south in downtown St Pete one evening, my family and I spied a new restaurant. Having time on out hands, we decided to stop in and give it a try. When we were greeted at the door, we found out it was only their second night open. The restaurant has a cozy appearance of a cabin with a fireplace on one wall. There is some funky looking see through pails filled with corks that hang from the ceiling with lights in the bottom. For seating, there is a number of options. First, there is the outside seating in the back patio, seating on the sidewalk out front, a long bar with bar stools, big booths along one wall, or tables in the rest of the restaurant. There are flat screen tv's on every wall for your viewing pleasure. After checking out the back patio where music was playing, we decided to grab one of the huge booths.

Our server took our drink order and gave us a few minutes to check out the menu. The house made potato chips with barbecue sauce and blue cheese looked intriguing, and we also decided to try the Lucy Juicy cheeseburger, and the Cajun Crab cake sandwich. Everything came out delicious. The chips were addictive, the burger was just what a burger should be, and the crab cake sandwich was yummy and the server was obliging enough to bring us extra sweet pickles to put on top of our sandwich. This restaurant is the perfect addition to the downtown scene. We liked it so much, that we stopped a few days, and they had started serving the cupcakes that are part of their dessert menu. The cupcakes are provided by an outside caterer and they are a mini cupcake that is just the right size indulgence for ending an already calorie laden meal. They come in some traditional flavors and some flavors that I haven't seen before. You can order three flavors for $5. We tried the chocolate chocolate, the strawberry shortcake, and the apple pie. They were all yummy and I loved the strawberry shortcake with its bit of strawberry inside the cupcake the apple pie with its bit of pie crust in the frosting, and you can never go wrong with chocolate. This is sure to be a great local hang out to grab a drink and a bite.

The Avenue Eatery

330 1st Avenue South

St Petersburg, FL 33701

727-851-9531

Fray's Donuts - Northeast St Petersburg, FL

2011-11-17T10:22:00.003-05:00

Having a hankering for donuts one rainy morning, I headed over to Fray's Donuts in Northeast St Petersburg. Fray's is an old fashioned sort of place with quaint stools at the counter. The donuts are what really drew my attention, though. Although there was a selection of muffins along with the donuts, I went with a traditional pick of donuts. I ordered a chocolate honey dipped, a sour cream donut, and my favorite, powdered sugar. All three tasted delicious, but my favorite was the powdered sugar. It had a great taste and powdered sugar was dropping everywhere, so it was messy, just how it should be. Along with the donuts, I had a plain old cup of joe with cream and it hit the spot just right. This is a great place to get a donut fix.

Fray's Donuts

5236 16th St North

St Petersburg, FL 33703

727-528-1410

Nordstrom Cafe Bistro - International Mall, Tampa

2011-11-14T20:00:00.006-05:00

On a recent shopping expedition to International Mall in Tampa, my family and I needed a break from the shopping madness and decided to stop in for lunch at Nordstrom's Cafe Bistro. I didn't know whether or not to expect good things from a cafe inside a store, but I was more than pleasantly surprised at my experience. I was worried for a moment when we had to place our order at the cash register before being seated, but after that everything was perfect. After placing our order, we were seated by the hostess and then our server stopped by our table to look at our order receipt and to let us know he would be back with our drink orders. A short while later and he was back with a lovely chardonnay we had ordered.

So, we enjoyed our wine and while waiting for our food, we observed other food orders coming out and thought the fries looked really good and we wanted to order some, but I wasn't sure if we would need to go back to the register to order or if we could place an order at the table. When our server stopped by, he assured us that any further orders could be placed at our table. Soon, our food arrived. We had ordered the crab bisque, margarita pizza, and the yummy looking french fries. The crab bisque was amazing with the perfect spicy kick to it. The margarita pizza was delicious with a nice tender crust. Then there were the fries, which we were glad we ordered. They were wonderful and they had a lovely aioli that tasted like kalamata olives were one of the key ingredients. Finally, we ended our meal with the white chocolate bread pudding, which was pure decadence. The bread pudding was topped with shaved white chocolate and surrounded by a white chocolate sauce, raspberry coulis, and a generous dollop of whip cream. What a perfect way to end the meal. The service there was great and we didn't want for anything. This is a great little oasis to enjoy a great meal when you are ready to get away from all that hustle and bustle in the mall.

Nordstrom Cafe Bistro

2223 North West Shore Blvd #300

Tampa, FL 33607

813-875-4400

L'Eden Restaurant and Bar - downtown Tampa

2011-11-04T14:54:00.004-04:00

My family and I popped into L'Eden one Saturday afternoon and had quite a lovely experience. The inside of the restaurant is quaint with its small tables by the large windows. This space itself is very small and has a european flavor. There is a small bar that had brioche and croissants on it, when we were there. We were seated at a lovely corner spot by the windows.

After a quick look at the menu, we were excited to see they offered sweet and savory crepes. We had one vegetable crepe, of which leeks was the lovely and dominant filling. We also ordered one croissant sandwich with melted brie. Both of these were served a generous serving of roasted potatoes and leafy greens. Both dishes were divine and went lovely with a glass of red wine. After that, we had to try some sweet crepes, so we ordered one filled with chocolate and one butter and sugar crepe. Both were so yummy and the crepes were thin and delicate, just like they should be. I can't wait until I have another lazy Saturday, so we can pay a visit there again.

L'Eden Restaurant and Bar

500 North Tampa Street

Tampa, FL 33602

813-221-4795

Samaria Cafe - Tampa, FL

2011-11-02T17:30:00.007-04:00

Looking for breakfast on a beautiful Saturday morning, my family and I headed to downtown Tampa to try the breakfast at Samaria Cafe. We were greeted warmly upon entering the cafe and observed that was the rule for whoever walked in the door. The cafe has a lot of bright and open space and you can be seated at a booth or regular table. We asked for a table right in the center of things, so we could observe our surroundings.

After looking over the menu, we ordered a cheeseburger and fries, a mushroom omelette, and pancakes. After a reasonable period of time, our food arrived. All of the food was okay, but nothing really wowed me. I really wished we had enjoyed the food there more because the setting was a cozy breakfast spot and the service and attention offered to the customers by the owners and servers was excellent. However, I do notice that there are a lot of raves on the food by other urbanspoon users, so I would still say one should give it a try if they are in the area because you very well may have a different perspective on the food than we did.

Samaria Cafe

502 North Tampa St

Tampa, FL 33602

813-223-1674

Primos Restaurant and Lounge - Miami, FL

2011-09-28T15:39:00.002-04:00

On a recent stay in downtown Miami, my family and I headed out to find someplace near our hotel where we could eat. Our hotel was surrounded by lots of other hotels, so we figured we would venture away from them to find something decent to eat. Making our way through different hotel lobbies to get out of the neighborhood, we passed Primos, which was located in the hotel lobby of Doubletree. I always have this thought that nothing good comes from eating at restaurants that are in hotels, so with that in mind, we passed it by. Well after walking around the area around the hotels for awhile, we found NOTHING. So, we decided to head back to Primos, because we were hopeful that being Italian food, it at least couldn't be that bad. I am so glad there wan't anything else nearby, or we would have missed a gem. Primos itself is a relaxing environment where you can grab a table or a seat at the bar, although we opted for a table.

First, we ordered some white and red wine from their wines by the glass selection. I have to say both wines were nice, which I can't say happens a lot when ordering by the glass. Our server told us about the specials of the day and then we looked over the menu. We opted to try pure comfort food, so we ordered a spaghetti bolgnaise, and a meaty lasagna and both came with a salad. Both dished were out of this world. If you are watching your waistline, these are probably not for you, but they were so delicious. That was a truly enjoyable experience!

Primos Restaurant and Lounge

(lobby of Doubletree Grand Hotel on Biscayne Bay)

1717 North Bayshore Drive

Miami, FL 33132

305-371-9055

Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor and Restaurant - Dania Beach, FL

2011-09-28T15:06:00.003-04:00

I went to Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlor, and I have been dreaming about it ever since. My family and I recently met up there with a friend of ours and her family on her recommendation. This is a place our friend had been going to since a teenager, and she introduced it to us. This place has been around a lot longer than our friend, since 1956 it has been serving up ice cream and food. The outside of the restaurant looks like it belongs to a different era. Walking inside Jaxson's, there is a small candy store that sells candy like I remember from back in the day, when I was a young child.

We were all given a table, then we took a few minutes to look over the ice cream menu. My eyes about popped out of my head at the number of delicious choices. My family was going to order an individual ice cream for each person, but noticing that my friend was ordering an ice cream to share with her husband because she said the ice cream desserts are huge, I decided to order one to share. I chose the Towering Short Cakes, which is pound cake topped with vanilla ice cream, strawberries and whipped cream. Oh, my goodness, it was so delicious and words cannot describe how much I enjoyed it. I was so glad that we decided to share, because my husband and I could not finish that ice cream between the two of us. This was supposed to be an afternoon snack, but after that, we were pretty much done eating for the rest of the day. The only sad thing about this place is that it is four hours away from where we live. If you live in the area or are visiting the area, this is a must stop place for the taste and experience.

Jaxson's Ice Cream Parlour and Restaurant

128 South Federal Highway

Dania Beach, FL 33004

954-923-4445

Twisted Cork Grille - St Petersburg, FL

2011-09-28T14:43:00.003-04:00

Craving a burger in a bad way, yet wanting to try something new, my search led me to the Twisted Cork Grille in St Petersburg. I had read a lot of reviews about the Twisted Cork Grille and their great burgers and food. The reviews also prepared me for the appearance of the restaurant, which is attached to a rather old motel. From the description of others, I got the idea that if I can get past the outside, everything changes for the better, once you walk in the door. Those descriptions were pretty much spot on. While the inside is not fancy, it is cozy and and I forgot all about the outside of the restaurant. We were told to grab a table wherever we liked, so we found a suitable spot. After we gave our drink order, we took a minute to look over the menu.

As I already knew I wanted a burger, it was a pretty easy decision for me. I ordered a Twisted Cork Burger with cheddar cheese, which is their basic burger. The burger comes with fries and a pickle. After a short wait, my burger was served. This was a yummy and juicy burger and satisfied my burger craving and I loved the ciabatta bread that it was served with instead of a regular bun. On their board, they offered blackberry cobbler served with ice cream as their dessert of the day, so I just had to try that. I love blackberries and cobbler, so that was a winning combination with vanilla ice cream melting over the warm cobbler. I left the Twisted Cork happy and very full.

Twisted Cork Grille

3405 34th Street North

St Petersburg, FL 33713

727-525-2675

Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish - South Pasadena, FL

2011-09-05T23:17:00.003-04:00

A number of years ago, someone told us to try out Ted Peters because they were really good. But, we didn't get around to going. Then, we saw a Food Network show about Ted Peters and how they smoked their fish and we were intrigued, but we still didn't go. Finally, this past weekend, we went and were impressed. Ted Peters is an experience to try. Things are not fancy here and you can sit outside on what are basically picnic tables, although there is an air-conditioned dining room inside. We went for the picnic tables outside. By outside, I do mean a covered area, so don't worry about the sun beating down on your heads.

We ordered some drinks, and I enjoyed a mug of draft root beer. We decided to order the smoked mullet dinner that comes with german potato salad and coleslaw. Along with that, we ordered the jumbo cheeseburger and the smoked fish spread with crackers. Soon our food arrived and our server gave us instructions on how to take the bones out, then we dug in. The smoked mullet was a real treat, and I am glad we only ordered one fish dinner because with the fish spread and burger, it was all more than enough for sharing. The burger was also done very well. As for the fish spread, it was delicious. This was a fun and tasty experience. Now, we have to go back again sometime and try some of the other smoked fish they offer. Besides the smoked mullet, they also have smoked salmon, mahi-mahi, and mackerel.

Some final information to share, make sure you go with cash because this is a cash only business. If you want to visit Ted Peters, they are open six days a week from 11:30 am to 7:30 pm, and closed on Tuesdays.

Ted Peters Famous Smoked Fish

1350 Pasadena Avenue South

South Pasadena, FL 33707

727-381-7931

Indigo Coffee - Tampa, FL

2011-09-05T23:06:00.003-04:00

In need of a pick me up while in downtown Tampa, Indigo Coffee was just the place for us. Inside, Indigo Coffee reminded me a bit of that other famous national coffee chain. I ordered one of their lattes, which was very good and went perfect with a chocolate chunk cookie. If you find yourself in downtown Tampa and need a cup of joe, this is your place to stop.

Indigo Coffee

514 N Franklin St

Tampa, FL 33602

813-849-2233

Pizzaiolo Bavaro - Tampa, FL

2011-09-05T22:22:00.003-04:00

Walking by Pizzaiolo Bavaro in downtown Tampa, we found ourselves drawn in by the delicious scent of Italian food drifting out the open door. Inside was a cozy restaurant with brick walls and a wood fire burning in the oven in the back corner of the restaurant.

We ordered a few drinks and decided to try the Margherita pizza. Soon our pizza came to our table and looked lovely with its melted cheese topped with basil. The pizza was delicious and I especially liked the tomato base on the pizza, which really makes the difference between a good pizza and a great pizza. If you like, they also offer some nice pasta selections on their menu. This is a great find in downtown Tampa.

Pizzaiolo Bavaro

514 North Franklin St

Suite 101

Tampa, FL 33602

813-868-4440

Mise En Place - Tampa, FL

2011-09-04T20:28:00.003-04:00

Mise En Place is a lovely restaurant located in Hyde Park. After a fun afternoon at the Tampa Bay History Center, we stopped over for a bite to eat. The best way I can describe the restaurant is quietly elegant. We arrived shortly after the restaurant opened for dinner, so it was very quiet at that hour. We were quickly given a table along one of the comfy padded benches.

After ordering a couple of drinks, we looked over the menu. We tried a couple of items from the second plates menu. First, there was the Moroccan Fried Quail with preserved lemon honey. The quail had a hint of spiciness and was nice, but I felt the taste of the quail was somewhat lost underneath the coating. The other dish we chose was the L.A. Pizza with rock shrimp, sun-dried tomatoes, capers, olives, cipolinni onions, and arugula salad. The pizza was excellent and all of the components of the pizza worked well together. Finally, we tried the homemade ice cream that they make daily. We tried the lemon ice cream which was pure bliss. This is a nice place with a lot of creative dining options on their menu.

Mise En Place

442 West Kennedy Blvd

Tampa, FL 33606

813-254-5373

Mellow Mushroom - Tampa, FL

2011-09-03T12:34:00.003-04:00

My son and I were over in Tampa, and we needed something to eat, like immediately. Driving down the road, we noticed a Mellow Mushroom, which we have never tried, even though it is a chain that we have seen in various cities that we have traveled to in the past. So, being VERY hungry, this seemed like a good time to try them out and see how they stack up against other pizza chains, which we avoid because chain pizza is generally very bad. Heading inside the restaurant, the Mellow Mushroom appeared to be going for the hippy scene theme. Yes, it was kind of cheesy, but appealing. We were given seating at one of the booths.

We ordered some soda and made a quick choice of basic cheese pizza. For those of you who have read previous posts of mine, we almost always order cheese pizza. I can't remember the last time I ordered a pizza with other toppings because we love our pizza basic. After a short wait, food arrived and we loved the pizza. The crust was unusual, and had a buttery taste to it. I even liked the crust at the back that was dusted with parmesan cheese and slightly garlicky tasting. I would rather go to a mom and pop shop to get my pizza, but it is good to know that there is some good options out their for chain store pizza. The Mellow Mushroom definitely beats some of those other pizza chains, hands down. (No, this is not a paid advertisement.)

Mellow Mushroom

11955 Sheldon Road

Tampa, FL 33626

813-926-3600

Mocha Vida - St Petersburg, FL

2011-09-03T12:13:00.003-04:00

I stopped over at Mocha Vida to check out a drum circle jam and open mic that they host every Thursday night. Little did I know what a cool place this would be and my only regret is that they aren't close enough to me to be a daily coffee shop stop. This is a place you want to grab your drink and sit down and get comfortable with a good book for a couple of hours. The drum circle they host there is awesome and perfect in such an intimate setting. They have plenty of chairs to gather around in a circle and a cozy couch. In their pastry case, they offer a tantalizing assortment of chocolate fudges and chocolate treats. We tried a latte that was very good along with an ice tea, also very good. To satisfy our sweet tooth, we tried the vanilla cupcakes that had a scrumptious layer of chocolate on the bottom. Try this one, I don't think you will be disappointed!

Mocha Vida

10468 Roosevelt Blvd

St Petersburg, FL 33716

727-656-8275

Snapper's Sea Grill - St Pete Beach, FL

2011-09-02T23:33:00.003-04:00

Snapper's is a cozy and intimate little seafood restaurant located on St Pete Beach. They are open for dinner only. If you are dining on a budget, they offer a early bird special from 4 pm to 5 pm ranging in price from 8.95 to 11.95. The early bird special includes coffee or tea, salad, entree, and a petite slice of their key lime pie (call ahead to confirm the early bird special is still in effect). The night we dined there was later in the evening, so I would love to hear any feedback from anyone who has tried the early bird dining special. When we arrived at Snapper's, we took a seat inside, but as the air conditioning was running a bit cold, we quickly decided to dine at one of the tables outside.

In addition to their regular menu, Snapper's offers a nightly menu of specials that includes wine on it. They had a lovely Bordeaux Clairet that we had never tried before that turned out to be a nice surprise. For one of our entrees, we chose the grouper topped with shrimp, scallops, and a crabmeat stuffing with champagne cream sauce that was served along with vegetables and a potato puff pastry. Next, was the Asian Orange glazed salmon, which my son opted to have served with fries, rather than the rice that was included in the dish. The final entree we chose was the Coconut-Cashew Crusted Mahi-Mahi served over mango chutney with a grilled banana and a potato puff pastry. Prior to the entrees, we enjoyed a spicy hummus with crunchy flat bread and a salad with a delicious, smoky tasting dressing. After that, we were served our nicely presented entrees. The seafood was wonderful and if I was going to pick a favorite, it would have to be the grouper. The potato puff pastry was absolutely divine, too. After all that, we tried the key lime pie, with a chocolate cookie crust. I loved the key lime filling, but I guess I am a traditionalist, when it comes to key lime pie. The chocolate crust was too overpowering for the filling. However, this is my only complaint in an otherwise great experience.

Our server was very attentive and we never lacked for anything throughout the evening. If you want to enjoy great seafood, this would be a definite winner. If you don't happen to be a big fan of seafood, they offer a few meat and chicken entrees on the menu.

Snapper's Sea Grill

5895 Guld Blvd

St Pete Beach, FL 33706

727-367-3550

Mr. Dunderbak's - Tampa, FL

2011-08-27T18:47:00.000-04:00

A bit of a drive over to north Tampa from St Petersburg, and I found myself at Mr. Dunderbak's, which is a German themed restaurant. I encountered cases of beer and small beer kegs all down the entranceway to the restaurant. In fact, it looked like there was beer stacked throughout different areas of the restaurant. And that's not all. This is a restaurant, but they also have beer for sale along with candy, meat, cheese, chocolate, beer steins, etc. Besides the main room with small tables and long tables for larger parties, there is another room with beer and long tables and a room with a small bar and a couch and chairs. We were seated at a small table in the main room.

The first order of business was to check out the menu of draft beers that numbers around 55 draft beers on tap. The beer menu may be disappointing if you come to Mr. Dunderbak's and expect that a German restaurant might have a large selection of german beers. They had a few german beers, but pretty much stuff you can see on offer at other places along with a few belgian beers. It seemed like a large portion of the draft selection was made up of american beers. There is nothing wrong with american beers, but if you are going to a german themed restaurant, you might hope to try out a few more german beers.

After ordering beer, it was on to the food. We ordered the reuben, which is supposed to be their number one seller. Along with the reuben, we ordered the sauerbraten with red cabbage and potato pancakes and the veal schnitzel sandwich. The schnitzel sandwich was good, but a bit tough. The reuben was very good and tender. Both of the sandwiches were served with potato chips and pickles. Finally, the beef sauerbraten was very tender, and I loved the red cabbage and the potato pancakes served with applesauce. It was a very fun experience and I liked the german music playing over the speakers. If you have a large party of friends, this would be a fun place to gather them all together and enjoy a few beers. Cheers!

Mr. Dunderbak's

14929 Bruce B Downs Blvd

Tampa, FL 33613

O'Bistro - St Petersburg, FL

2011-08-27T12:06:00.000-04:00

I just had a wonderful breakfast this morning and I am sure I just ate more than was good for me, but it was sooooo good that I couldn't help myself. The O'Bistro is located in a rather blah strip of shops that looks rather uninspiring and an unlikely source of good food. However, appearances can be deceiving, so we continued inside the restaurant where things began to look a bit more promising and you kind of forget at that point that you are in a strip mall. We were given seating at one of the booths in the middle portion of the restaurant.

O'Bistro offers mimosas and martinis if you like, but it was a latte and a plain coffee for us. We ordered the Creme Brulee French Toast, the smoked salmon omelette, and the reuben omelette. With the omelettes, there is a choice of potatoes or grits and a raisin muffin is also served with that. The french toast was made with thick slices of challah bread and served with hot syrup. It was fantastic and it brought to mind warm caramel rolls. The reuben omelette was also good with its corned beef and cheese, and just like your classic reuben, it too includes sauerkraut. I wasn't sure about sauerkraut in an omelette, but it was surprisingly delicious. Then there was the salmon omelette, which was perfect and bursting with a generous serving of smoked salmon inside. I don't want to overlook the sides because the grits, potatoes with onions and peppers, and the raisin muffin were excellent. We had a great breakfast and if I was going to pick on anything it would have to be the latte. If you are going to serve espresso drinks, they should be done right, or not at all because my latte was not very good at all. However, everything else was so very good that I would avoid this next time by sticking with regular coffee because I will definitely be back again sometime to try their lunch or dinner.

O'bistro

6661 Central Avenue

St Petersburg, FL 33710

727-381-1212

A la Mode - Palmetto, FL

2011-08-25T09:12:00.001-04:00

After breakfast at The Nook in Palmetto, ice cream seemed the next obvious choice, right? Who doesn't need ice cream after breakfast. Okay, it was more like lunch time, so that makes it okay. Directly across the road from the Nook, sits A la Mode. It had a rather interesting appearance, and that was what drew us across the road in the first place. A la Mode offers ice cream, sandwiches, and various other items for snacking and drinking. As we had just had breakfast, we ordered one scoop of chocolate and one scoop of superman ice cream in a cup for my son. The chocolate ice cream was very good, and not too overwhelming, as some chocolate ice cream tends to be. And of course, what can beat superman ice cream?

A la Mode

336 8th Avenue West

Palmetto, FL 34221

941-722-6974

Verducci Italian Pizzeria - St Pete Beach, FL

2011-08-24T21:46:00.002-04:00

One evening, my family and I were venturing over to try Ted Peters, but discovered they were closed on Tuesday's. Undaunted, I pulled out my phone and did a quick search and found a pizzeria over on St Pete Beach that we hadn't tried, called Verducci's. Walking in the door, the delicious aroma of Italian food hinted that we had good food in store for us. Besides that, it was a cozy looking Italian eatery and we felt right at home. We were quickly greeted at the door and given a table.

After giving our drink orders, we took a minute to look over the menu. We already new we wanted the cheese pizza, but what to try along with it? We decided to try Giovanni's Signature Lasagna, with beef. While waiting for our food, we were given a salad which was very nice and a bread basket with rolls and focaccia bread served with a olive tapenade in olive oil. The hot bread was very much appreciated and the tapenade very yummy. We thought the cheese pizza was one of the best we had in a long time and the lasagna was melt in your mouth. The lasagna portion was huge and between that and the pizza we were sharing, we still had leftovers to take home. This place was a definite hit for us!

Verducci's Italian Pizzeria

7736 Blind Pass Road

St Pete Beach, FL 33706

727-363-7900

Spice Routes - St Petersburg, FL

2011-08-24T21:21:00.000-04:00

I can't tell you how happy I was when I heard that the Morean Arts Center in downtown St Petersburg would have a Spice Routes cafe in their art center. How handy to go and see the art and then stop and have a coffee and a treat, lunch, or perhaps even a wine or beer. There is a nice selection of salads, soups, sandwiches, and desserts on their menu. The space is gorgeous with all those windows. In one section, there is some nice leather chairs and a coffee table and some art books in the bookshelf along the wall. In the room next door, there is an abundance of tables and chairs. One Saturday, after my family and I had looked at the art, we went to the cafe and had some lattes and tried the cranberry muffins, which were delicious. My son eyed up the brownies, until he discovered they had nuts inside. This is a really nice place, and I will visit the cafe, even without stopping to see the art.

Spice Routes

701 Central Avenue

St Petersburg, FL 33701

727-821-9993

Dooners - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2011-08-24T20:36:00.000-04:00

Dooners opened in the spot previously occupied by Athenian Gardens in downtown St Petersburg, and I was anxious to try the food offered by the new resident. Walking into Dooners for the first time, I liked the way they redecorated and was greeted by friendly staff. The menu and food counter where you order are the first thing you see as you walk in the door. Place your order, get your food, pay, and take your food to your table.

We decided to try a variety of menu items. We ordered the doner sandwich, chicken schnitzel, and the beef borek, which is a pastry filled with beef. I liked the meat in the doner sandwich, but I wasn't sure if I liked the bread that it was served in, because I thought the bread was too thick. I liked the mushroom gravy that was served on top of the chicken schnitzel. The schnitzel was served with a choice of two sides and we had fries and rice with our order. Finally, I really enjoyed the borek filled with beef. Altogether, I liked the food, but I wasn't really wowed by anything. However, it is handy to have close by if you are drinking at the Independent next door and want to grab some food to bring along.

Dooners

21 3rd Street North

St Petersburg, FL 33701

727-623-4848

The Nook - Bradenton, FL

2011-08-23T20:55:00.000-04:00

Even though I haven't lived in Bradenton for a couple of years, my family and I still like to head over there every so often. One weekend, we made the trip over for a late breakfast. We were on the way to one of our old breakfast haunts, when passing through Palmetto, we spied a restaurant in a converted old house called The Nook. Leaving our old spot for another time, we stopped in at The Nook. This is a spacious place with plenty of tables spread throughout the lower floor of the house. The space was wide open, so we were able to pick a table of our choice.

With our coffee in front of us, we looked over the menu pondering our choices. We ordered a veggie omelette with grits and raisin toast, an egg and cheese croissant sandwich, and chocolate chip pancakes. All around, the food was very good. I especially appreciated the raisin bread as one of the toast choices, and the chocolate chip pancakes were awesome. It was a very pleasant dining experience.

The Nook

337 8th Avenue West

Palmetto, FL 34221

941-721-9393

Modesto - Asheville, NC

2011-08-22T23:26:00.000-04:00

While strolling through Grove Arcade one afternoon, we noticed Modesto and checked out their menu and kept it in the back of our minds as a potential place to try during our visit to Asheville. When our son expressed a desire for pizza one evening, we decided Modesto would be the place to try. At Modesto, they have a nice spot on the sidewalk for outdoor dining, or you can dine inside, which is also a nice space to enjoy your food.

The food here tasted as beautiful as it looked. Everything as fantastic from the fish and risotto, the lobster ravioli with mushrooms, and of course the margherita pizza. To complete the package, the service was excellent, which seemed to be the case pretty much everywhere we dined in Asheville.

Modesto

1 Page Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801

828-225-4133

Fiore's Ristorante Toscana - Asheville, NC

2011-08-22T23:08:00.000-04:00

My family and I enjoyed a beautiful lunch at Fiore's, while vacationing in Asheville. Fiore's is in downtown Asheville, just off of Pack Square Park. The restaurant is lovely with warm colors, and seating at their tables or at one of their more intimate booths.

During lunch, they had a special offering two slices of pizza and soup. The soup that day was a hearty chicken and vegetable soup. The soup was delicious with generous chunks of chicken complemented by roasted vegetables. The soup was very filling and was lunch in itself. The pizza that followed was awesome. Along with that, we tried the veggie lasagna that was covered in alfredo sauce. Oh my goodness, the lasagna was so yummy. It was a good thing that the lasagna portion was huge because we were all sharing that lasagna. Nothing better than enjoying good food in a lovely setting.

Fiore's Ristorante Toscana

122 College Street

Asheville, NC 28801

828-281-0710

Twisted Crepe - Asheville, NC

2011-08-22T22:48:00.000-04:00

During our trip to Asheville, the weather was beautiful and a lovely escape away from the summer heat of Florida. However, one evening we were caught in the rain, and we escaped out of the rain into the nearest eatery at hand, which happened to be Twisted Crepe. In appearance, Twisted Crepe rather resembles a fast food restaurant. Behind the counter, you can watch as the crepes are made. But what interested me the most was the sign listing the crepe menu. They offer a selection of sweet and savory crepes, so we decided to try a little bit of each.

For the savory crepe, we tried the Smith's Early Bird. This was a crepe filled with eggs, cream cheese, scallions, and local smoked trout. This was delicious and we especially loved the smoked trout. We followed our savory crepe with a nutella crepe. Yum......

Twisted Crepe

62 Haywood Street

Asheville, NC 28801

828-505-3855

Old Europe - Asheville, NC

2011-08-22T22:38:00.000-04:00

This is a small, but lovely place to stop in and get a sweet treat. The glass case is filled with an assortment of yummy looking temptations. A chocolate chip cookie and a lemon berry pastry seemed like just the thing to hit the spot, and they were exactly what we needed. Add a coffee to that, and we were ready to continue our sightseeing in Asheville.

Old Europe

13 Broadway Street

Asheville, NC 28801

828-255-5999

The Pub at International Plaza - Tampa, FL

2011-08-15T23:26:00.000-04:00

I don't often stop at restaurant groups, but once and a while circumstances dictate. Longing for a bit of a pick me up after shopping, my family and I stopped in at the Pub. It was a while since my last trip to International Plaza, and the Pub was not at the mall the last time we went shopping there. The restaurant is done up to look up like a British pub, only it is a lot larger than a traditional pub and you won't have that same cozy feeling you have with your neighborhood pub. We chose one of the bar tables, so that we could see the bar and part of the restaurant. The male servers wear kilts, which may be a bit cheesy, but a fun concept.

For beer drinkers, they have some of your typical draught beers from England, Scotland, and Ireland, among others. If you don't find what your looking for in draught beers, you can take a look at the bottled beer selection. We heartily enjoyed a couple of dips from the shareables menu. The spinach a artichoke dip along with the goat cheese dip served with warm pita wedges hit just the right spot. After that, we were in dessert heaven. First, there was the warm cookie sundae with gooey chocolate chips served with vanilla ice cream and topped with caramel sauce. My personal favorite was the whiskey bread pudding. The whiskey sauce, combined with the plump raisins in the warm bread pudding and ice cream melting all over it made for pure dessert bliss. Lest I forget, in the upstairs portion of the restaurant you can pour your own beer, if you so desire. So, yes this is a chain, but fun to try if you find yourself at International Plaza.

The Pub at International Plaza

2223 North Westshore Blvd

Tampa, FL 33607

813-443-5642

La Creperia Cafe - Ybor City, FL

2011-08-15T23:03:00.000-04:00

Longing for a bit of dessert, La Crepria Cafe was just the place I wanted to try. Inside the cafe, they created a bit of the ambience of a european cafe. There were little tables along one side of the restaurant, and a some spots at the counter if you want to watch your crepes being made at the front of the cafe.

I decided to order the nutella crepe, as nutella is my favorite crepe filling. Luckily, the cafe was pretty quiet, so it was a very short wait for my crepe. The crepe was good, although I do prefer my crepe a bit thinner than it was prepared here. However, I stilled enjoyed crepe and the quaint setting.

La Creperia Cafe

1729 East 7th Avenue

Ybor City, FL 33605

813-248-9700

Meze 119 - St Petersburg, FL

2011-08-09T19:56:00.001-04:00

After trying the food at Meze 119 for the first time, I have to say I was very excited by the vegetarian offerings they have there. Although I am not a vegetarian, a majority of the meals that my family and I prepare at home are vegetarian, so I was very curious to try the menu at Meze. Meze is located in downtown St Petersburg, next to Starbucks, if you are familiar with the downtown area. Inside, the restaurant is a simple, but eye-pleasing space. You can sit at one of the regular tables or grab a place at one of the booths with colorful throw pillows.

The staff and owner here are friendly and ready to offer suggestions or answer any questions you may have about the menu items. Our biggest problem was deciding what to order from the menu, as a number of the menu items sounded intriguing. Finally, we decided to select a few plates to try. The Meze website describes meze as small dishes, but let me assure you, there was not anything small about each dish that we ordered. For starters, we tried the bourekas. The bourekas are stuffed puff pastry, and the filling changes every day. On the day we ate there, they were stuffed with a cauliflower filling and were very yummy. The bourekas were followed by the meze-zah, their version of a middle eastern pizza. The pizza had a nice crispy wheat crust and was topped with a delicious medley of cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, olives, and artichokes. Next, was the green omelette, which was an omelette with scallions and served in a pita with hummus. We did try the hummus tahina plate, which was a basic hummus served with pita, or if you like they also offer a chef's hummus of the day, but I love basic hummus. Finally, my absolute favorite dish, was the roasted acorn squash stuffed with Moroccan couscous. Oh my, this wonderfully roasted squash was overflowing with fragrantly spice couscous and plump raisins. All of the food was delicious, and I know we will be back to try more items from the menu.

Meze 119

119 Second Street North

St Petersburg, FL 33701

727-498-8627

Pack's Tavern - Asheville, NC

2011-08-02T18:35:00.000-04:00

Pack's is a huge restaurant with plenty of open space and windows down the length of the booth lined wall. We stopped in the afternoon between the lunch and dinner time, so we were able to get a booth next to the windows with a view of the peaceful setting outside. Our server was pleasant and answered any questions we had about the beer and menu.

We couldn't eat here without trying the cheeseburger, which turned out very yummy. Along with the burger, we also tried the trout cake sandwich, which was delicious. The trout sandwich was served with spinach, red onions, and a wonderful mango salsa. My favorite part of the meal was the grilled salmon with mashed potatoes. This was a lovely spot to enjoy your meal and just relax.

Pack's Tavern

20 South Spruce Street

Asheville, NC 28801

828-225-6944

Creperie Bouchon - Asheville, NC

2011-08-02T18:02:00.000-04:00

Enjoying a walk down the sidewalk in Asheville, we were peeking in various restaurant windows and finally we peeked in Bouchon French Bistro's window and it looked lovely. However, the place was packed, and it didn't look like a table would be available soon. That's when we spied a sign for crepes, and following the sign, we found ourselves in this charming courtyard. It was a lovely oasis, with a few fireflies dancing around. This is meant to be a street food experience, which means you place your order inside and then they bring it to you. While there are tables inside, it was too lovely of a courtyard to miss the opportunity of dining outside.

They serve beer and wine, along with the usual selection of non-alcoholic beverages. They have a selection of savory crepes and sandwiches and the french fries are a must try here. When in a crepe place, I cannot leave without trying the sweet crepes as I am always waiting to get to the dessert. Although, I always have to try the nutella crepes because I have a nutella addiction, I also decided to try the sugar and lemon crepe. Both crepes were delicious and the lemon crepes had just the right amount of tart, but the nutella crepe was my favorite. This is a wonderful place to enjoy crepes in a beautiful outdoor setting.

Creperie Bouchon

62 1/8 North Lexington Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801

828-350-3741

Thirsty Monk - Asheville, NC

2011-08-02T17:45:00.000-04:00

The Thirsty Monk is a cool beer joint that serves food in downtown Asheville. On the recommendation of a friend that insisted this is a must stop place for beer lovers, and I have to agree on that. The atmosphere is great with quotes on the wall, a bike hanging from the ceiling, and the beer pumps of different beer brands not being used are all along the walls. This is a great place for the serious beer drinker who likes to explore different beers from around the world. Whatever your taste, they have something for everyone!

Thirsty Monk

92 Patton Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801

828-254-5470

The Bier Garden - Asheville, NC

2011-08-01T22:37:00.000-04:00

This is a lovely spot to grab a table by one of the open windows and watch the activity on the sidewalk while you enjoy a nice, cold beer. The beer menu of domestic and import draught and bottled beer is extensive here, so there is something to suit everyone. If you feel a bit hungry and long for a bite to eat, check out the pub grub on the menu. We were on vacation, and enjoying a bit of grazing, while hopping from spot to spot, so we tried some fries, which were just right. It was a nice spot to sit back, relax, and enjoy a cold pint!

The Bier Garden

46 Haywood Street

Asheville, NC 28801

828-285-0002

Restaurant Solace - Asheville, NC

2011-08-01T22:13:00.000-04:00

Restaurant Solace is a hip restaurant serving innovative fare that is very satisfying. You can dine inside or their is a lovely spot to dine outside on the sidewalk like we did. This was a nice spot to enjoy our food and watch the bustling activity of passerby. The service here is very attentive and they promptly took our drink order and answered any questions we had about the menu.

We tried a couple of selections from the seasonal plates. The venison sliders with sriracha mayonnaise and kim-chee cucumber slaw turned out to be an excellent choice. Another yummy choice from the seasonal plates was the beef short ribs served with smoked gouda mac and cheese. Finally, from the entrees, another winner was the pan roasted mountain trout served over a potato cake and greens. The food was not only delicious, but the presentation was beautiful. And all of this came about by enjoying a nice walk by and deciding to stop and give the place a try, which turned out to be a great choice.

Restaurant Solace

1 Battery Park Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801

828-505-8333

Jack of the Wood - Asheville, NC

2011-08-01T21:55:00.000-04:00

Jack of the Wood is a rustic little spot to make yourself at home. They serve yummy pub food to enjoy along with your drink of choice. I was happy to try some of my pub staple favorites, such as their fish and chips, which were excellent. My favorite was the Irish Beef and Guinness stew served with mashed potatoes. The stew was comfort food at its finest and it was warm and satisfying. I found out they often host bands playing live music, but we missed out on our visit to Asheville. If you enjoy live music like we do, check out their website to see their music schedule, so you don't miss out. Finally, I don't want to forget to mention that the service there was excellent!

Jack of the Wood

95 Patton Avenue

Asheville, NC 28801

828-252-5445

Over Easy Cafe - Asheville, NC

2011-08-01T21:18:00.000-04:00

While in Asheville, I had fabulous breakfasts everywhere I ate, but my absolute favorite breakfast spot during our brief stay was at the Over Easy Cafe. This is a small cafe, with not too many tables inside, and it looks like it is always filled with customers. However small, it is very cozy and the service there is very friendly and it just had a great vibe.

Now, why was this my favorite breakfast spot? It was the pancakes! I absolutely adore pancakes in all forms, whether it is basic, dressed up with fruit, and the endless list goes on. Here, I fell in love with the classic hot cakes. There was something about them with their golden tender crust on the outside and the fluffy interior that was just perfect for soaking up the maple syrup that was served along with them. They were my idea of pancake perfection and I shall forever compare all pancakes to them. Okay, I guess that is enough pancake drama for everyone. The croissant sandwich was very delicious and the dijonaise complemented this lovely egg sandwich. I enjoyed the breakfast potatoes served with the sandwich. Oh, if only I lived closer, this would be a regular spot of mine.

Over Easy Cafe

32 Broad Street

Asheville, NC

828-236-3533

Beach Snoballs - Treasure Island, FL

2011-07-18T22:15:00.000-04:00

One very, very hot day, my family and I went to Beach Snoballs to see how they were different from ordinary snow cones. I had heard all about them and how they served New Orleans style snoballs, and how they were softer than ordinary snow cones, but I couldn't really understand it, until I tried it. So, we found ourselves standing outside Beach Snoballs order window, and a huge sign of flavors before us. One flavor that popped out at me was shark's blood, but I moved on to other flavors. Finally, I opted for mango and ice cream flavors, with a bit of New Orleans cream on top. From the window, I watched as the machine shaved the ice from the ice block into the cup. Next, the two flavors were added. Finally, a bit of New Orleans cream, otherwise known as condensed milk, was drizzled on top. That was one yummy treat, and the New Orleans cream added a nice richness to the flavor, but it would be just as delicious without the cream. So, how were snoballs compared to a regular snow cone? I rather thought they were a step above snow cones because the shaved ice was super soft versus the ice chips that are in snow cones. I look forward to coming back and trying different flavors.

Beach Snoballs

10927 Gulf Blvd

Treasure Island, FL 33706

727-415-8236

Larry's Olde Fashioned Ice Cream - St Pete Beach

2011-07-18T21:44:00.000-04:00

In the mood for ice cream or gelato? My family and I sure were one hot and sunny afternoon, so we made the trek over to Larry's. After walking in the door, I realized I had too many choices before me in the ice cream and gelato cases, not to mention the soft serve ice cream. Before I began to panic, I spied baked goods on the counter in the form of pies and cake. Ah, apple pie was before me, and that threw my confusion out the door. Give me apple pie warmed up with vanilla ice cream on top and I am in heaven. I guess the rest of us were feeling one too many choices before us, because it was a traditional soft serve vanilla and chocolate twist in a homemade waffle cone for the rest of the party. Yes, the waffle cones are made there and if you grab a table inside to enjoy your ice cream you can watch them as they make the waffle cones right there on the spot, and they smell good, too. What a delightful place to grab a cold and sweet treat!

Larry's Olde Fashioned Ice Cream

6595 Gulf Blvd

St Pete Beach, FL 33706

727-360-4259

Dockside Dave's - Madeira Beach/St Pete Beach, FL

2011-07-10T22:09:00.000-04:00

Whatever location you go to of Dockside Dave's, you'll find locals and tourists alike. Dockside Dave's serves up a nice selection of simple food in a laid back atmosphere, but their specialty is their locally caught black grouper. My family and I have been going to Dockside Dave's on a recommendation, since moving to Florida eight years ago. To be honest, we have never tried anything but the grouper because we go there when we are specifically in a grouper sort of a mood. There are a number of ways to get your grouper fix as they prepare it 5 different ways, and you can get it in a salad, sandwich, entree, or in a pasta dish.

Most recently, we tried our grouper three different ways. We ordered a country fried grouper sandwich, a chargrilled grouper entree, and a batter fried grouper entree. The sandwich comes by itself and sides are extra. However, while the sandwich does come by itself, it is huge. I am talking about a piece of grouper that is easily twice the size of the bun and it is definitely an entree size piece of fish. In fact, I have been at some other places where I have ordered grouper and haven't gotten the amount of fish I get in that one sandwich. Same for the entrees, huge pieces of grouper and with the entree and you get a choice of two sides with your entrees. In all three dishes, the grouper was excellent. It is fresh and that really shows when you take a bite and it has always been my experience at Dockside Dave's that one gets great tasting fish. As long as they keep doing what they are doing, this is one I will continue to come back to enjoy.

Dockside Dave's

14701 Gulf Blvd

Madeira Beach, FL 33708

727-392-9399

7141 Gulf Blvd

St Pete Beach, FL 33706

727-360-4200

Tupelo Honey Cafe - Asheville, NC

2011-07-08T09:55:00.001-04:00

On a recent trip to Asheville, my family and I stopped for breakfast at the Tupelo Honey Cafe on the recommendation of a friend. Judging by the huge crowd we saw every time we walked by Tupelo's, this is obviously a favorite dining spot in Asheville. Tupelo's serves lunch and dinner, but we stopped for breakfast because I especially wanted to try the sweet potato pancakes. Pancakes are my favorite breakfast food, so anytime I hear of an interesting twist on the original, I just have to try it. On the morning we stopped in, there was a bit of a wait for a table, but we were able to get instant seating at the bar. This turned out to be an interesting spot to sit because we could see a fair amount of the action going on in the kitchen. A quick look at the menu, and we were ready to order.

As I already mentioned, it was the sweet potato pancakes for me. In addition, we ordered an omelette with cheddar cheese, onions, cilantro jalepeno pesto and all of this was served with home fries. As if the pancakes weren't already enough for our sweet tooth, we ordered the Boondock Beignets. While waiting for our food we enjoyed our coffee and a delicious glass of peach nectar, along with complimentary biscuits served with Tupelo honey. After a short wait, breakfast arrived. The omelette was very good and what really made it was the cilantro jalepeno pesto. The beignets were equally delicious sprinkled in cinnamon sugar with a touch of honey drizzled on top. However, the star of the show was the sweet potato pancakes, which words cannot describe, mmmmmmm. If you ever get the chance to dine at Tupelo's for breakfast, this is really something to try. On a final note, as busy as Tupelo's was, we had excellent service throughout and our server was good about stopping by to make sure we had everything we needed.

Tupelo Honey Cafe

12 College Street

Asheville, NC 28801

828-255-4863

French Broad Chocolate Lounge - Asheville, NC

2011-07-02T12:19:00.000-04:00

The word chocolate is in the name, need I say more? If you live in Asheville, or are visiting Asheville, this is a must place to stop. Located around the corner from a bunch of other restaurants, French Broad Chocolate is easy to miss, unless you are looking for it. Inside, the scent of chocolate is a feast for the senses, along with the chocolate, chocolate desserts, and other sweet concoctions that fill the the display cases. There is constantly a line, but it thankfully moves quickly. Place your order and they will give you a card to take to your table so they know where to bring your order. While the place is small and intimate, there are plenty of comfy spots to sit.

They serve wine and beer, along with coffee drinks and others, but a glass of wine was in order. We had to try the liquid truffles, which is a ganache-based, hot sipping chocolate. There are several flavors of this and we decided to try the pure dark. This is very rich and decadent and a little goes along way. Along with this we tried the lavender creme brulee and a blackberry trifle. They used a torch on the spot to make the crunchy top for the creme brulee and it was everything a creme brulee should be. The blackberry trifle was heaven with a hint of lemon in the mascarpone cream and I did not leave a bite behind, as it was so good. This is a must stop spot for a sweet fix.

French Broad Chocolate Lounge

10 South Lexington

Asheville, NC 28801

828-252-4181

Early Girl Eatery - Asheville, NC

2011-06-28T21:01:00.000-04:00

Another recommendation for us from friends, a stop at the Early Girl Eatery was a must. The restaurant is homey and rustic with windows all along one wall to brighten things up. Even the tables felt like something you would have in your country kitchen at home. This is an obviously popular breakfast spot by the number of patrons inside. We were lucky enough to get there in time to get a table in a nice spot in the middle of the room. We were served a cup of coffee and apple juice and took a look at the menu.

I started off with the pumpkin ginger quickbread, served warm with butter, as a delicious appetizer, while waiting for the rest of our breakfast. For breakfast, Southern breakfast with eggs your way, which meant scrambled eggs, along with toast and grits. The southern breakfast was good, but even better was the cheddar cheese omelette we ordered along with toast and some real good home fries. Finally, this was a completed with one multigrain pancake, served with real maple syrup. The pancake was very yummy and I really appreciated the fact that they served real maple syrup with their pancakes, which seemed to be the thing wherever we ordered pancakes in Asheville. Along with a good breakfast, the service here was excellent.

Early Girl Eatery

8 Wall Street

Asheville, NC 28801

828-259-9292

Harvey's 4th Street Grill - St Petersburg, FL

2011-06-27T13:52:00.000-04:00

Harvey's 4th Street grill is one of your more traditional feeling bar and grill joints with the warm wood tones of the walls, bar, and furniture. It was so cozy inside, that I almost expected to look outside and see huge snowflakes falling outside the window. We were seated at a nice table in the corner where we could see out across the whole bar. There were a few patrons catching the game on tv the night we were there.

Harvey's has a surprisingly large menu selection of your usual bar fare, along with some nice entrees that include fresh grouper and pasta selections. We chose the chicken marsala served with garlic buttered fettuccine, vegetables, and garlic toast and my son ordered a cheeseburger with fries. I thought the chicken marsala was excellent, and my husband and son especially liked the burger at Harvey's. Overall, we had an enjoyable evening and can't wait to come back and try the Sunday brunch. Also, we thought the service friendly and conscientious.

Harvey's 4th Street Grill

3121 4th Street

St Petersburg, FL 33704

727-821-6516

Salt Rock Grill-Indian Shores, FL

2011-06-15T14:44:00.000-04:00

After seeing many users reviews using the Salt Rock Grill as a reference point to compare the seafood they had tried at other restaurants, I decided I had to see what all the fuss was about. A long drive over Gulf Drive, and we arrived at our destination. There is more than ample parking to self-park, or you can use the complimentary valet parking. When walking up to the front door, the restaurant appears big, but when you step inside, one gets more of an idea how huge the place is and it was very packed the Wednesday evening that we were there. In addition, they have a huge outdoor patio overlooking the water, which is where we decided to dine. Our server was quick to bring us our menus and take our drink orders. Looking over the regular menu and the menu for the night, I quickly noticed a couple of mahi mahi entrees, one in particular, that sounded by description to be interesting, so I was ready with my order.

Alas, the mahi mahi was not to be. Although it was only 6:30 pm, our server informed us they were out of the mahi mahi. Oh well, disappointing, but I went ahead and chose the grilled salmon. I love salmon, but it sounded rather boring, after I had my mind set on the other dish. For our other dishes, we ordered the roasted seabass, and the cedar planked salmon with french fries. For an appetizer we had the calamari with a very yummy Thai chile citrus sauce for dipping. The evening weather was gorgeous and it was lovely to enjoy our drinks, appetizers, and salad, while overlooking the water.

Now, on to the entrees, or about 10 minutes before we received our entrees. We had been there almost an hour enjoying drinks, appetizers, and such, when a party of eight was seated next to us. They had a different server than us, who gave them a menu and told them that the mahi mahi was getting low. What, surely this must be some mistake! Well, they ordered the mahi mahi when she came back for their order and I was sure she was going to come back and tell them that she is sorry, but she made a mistake and they were out of mahi mahi. So, on to our entrees. All of the fish dishes were done excellently, but the favorite was definitely the the roasted sea bass topped with crab. They definitely know how to do fish and do it well. Now, cut back to the table next to us. Their mahi mahi did arrive, much to my surprise. When, we asked our server about this he just said I am sorry. He said he asked his manager and the manager told him the mahi mahi was out. I thought this was very strange to say the least. I am not sure where the mistake lay, the manager or the server? I did feel that our server was rather lackluster compared to some of the servers working around us at other tables, so I don't know.

Anyway, despite the mahi mahi fiasco, I would definitely go back because the seafood was really good there. The only thing I would mention is that this is a huge place, so if you are looking for a cozy and intimate place, you won't find that here, but you will find good food, so keep those things in mind.

Salt Rock Grill

19325 Gulf Boulevard

Indian Shores, FL 33785

727-593-7625

Nina's Cafe - St Pete Beach, FL

2011-06-07T21:55:00.000-04:00

Nina's Cafe is a cozy little cafe located on Blind Pass Road in St Pete Beach. The inside is small and quaint and their are a limited number of tables inside. If you like, grab a seat at one of the patio tables located on the side of the cafe or in the back of the cafe, overlooking the water. They have the usual yummy breakfast fare. On the day we were there, we ordered a little bit of lunch and a little bit of breakfast, with coffee to drink. For the breakfast eaters, the build your own omelette is always perfect with a choice of meats, shrimp, veggies, and cheeses. The omelette is served with fried potatoes and your choice of bread. For the sweet tooth, the pancakes were a delicious must. And finally, the cheeseburger was very good, with the only thing detracting from it the oversized bun, but this is a one of those personal preference sort of things for me. The fries served along with it were very good. Altogether, we were pleased with our meal and thought it a very cute spot.

Nina's Cafe

9524 Blind Pass Road

St Pete Beach, FL 33706

727-367-1397

Old Salty Dog - Siesta Key, FL

2011-05-30T17:31:00.000-04:00

After a trip to one of our favorite Tampa Bay museums, the Ringling Museum, we were ready for a pick me up before heading back home. So we decided to wander over to Siesta Key and see what would strike our fancy. After driving along Ocean Boulevard on Siesta Key to see what restaurants were there, we decided to stop in at the Old Salty Dog and give them a try. We chose to grab seats at the picnic tables, rather than inside the restaurant.

After ordering drinks, we decided to try the coconut shrimp appetizer and a cheeseburger. The coconut shrimp was good, and even better was the sweet dipping sauce that came along with it. The burger was especially good, also. What a pleasant way to end the day!

The Old Salty Dog

5023 Ocean Boulevard

Sarasota, FL 34242

941-349-0158

Caddy's On The Beach - Sunset Beach, FL

2011-05-30T16:53:00.000-04:00

With the long Memorial Weekend ahead of us, my family and I were in a mood for some food with a view. With that in mind, we headed over to Caddy's on the waterfront. The first thing we learned upon arrival is that Caddy's charges $5 to park for two hours in their restaurant parking lot on the weekends (this price is subject to change). Caddy's itself is a very casual restaurant and I think more geared towards tourists, at least that is what it seemed like while we were there. The view of course was beautiful and you are there right on the white sand with the beautiful turquoise waters right in front of you. We chose to dine on the picnic tables that are right on the sand, with plenty of umbrellas to keep the sun off.

Unfortunately for us, we missed the cutoff time for breakfast, so we had to order from the lunch menu. We ordered a burger with fries, a 'tater fried icelandic fish sandwich, and pineapple upside down cake for dessert. The burger was a burger and that is all I have to say about that, but the 'tater fried icelandic fish sandwich was excellent. Also, I really enjoyed the pineapple upside down cake with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on the side. One final thing I want to mention is that all the food is served on styrofoam plates and your drinks in plastic glasses. If this affects your dining experience, this might not be the place for you. However, the view maybe more than makes up for all that.

We had a nice time and if I were a tourist, it is definitely a nice spot to enjoy some drinks on the beach and spend the day. This is a private beach and you can also rent cabanas there and spend your day in comfort.

Caddy's On The Beach

9000 West Gulf Boulevard

Sunset Beach, FL 33706

727-369-4993

When motrin gives you a headache?

2011-05-25T15:05:00.000-04:00

I noticed with amusement a statement I received after a trip to the emergency room with my son at All Children's Hospital. This is the statement one gets before it goes to the insurance company, which will then adjust the rates and pay the bill. The total bill was ridiculous, of course, but the $19 charge for one dose of children's Motrin really astounded me. We all know hospitals do these things, but it is something else to see it on paper in black and white. Charging $19 dollars for one dose, when one can buy a whole bottle of the stuff for $5-$8, depending where you buy it from, and if it is on sale or not.

Of course, administrators would have you believe that these high prices are caused by uninsured patients who don't pay, but it is easy to imagine why people are unable to pay when they charge unrealistic prices like this. Unfortunately, I couldn't find a recent article of hospital administrators salaries, but this 2008 article from the St Petersburg Times on hospital administrators salaries highlights why patients are paying $19 for a single dose of Motrin. As one can see, some of the salaries approach or exceed one million dollars. Certainly, this is something to think about.

Taco Bus - St Petersburg, FL

2011-05-22T20:28:00.000-04:00

I was happy when I heard that I wouldn't need to make the drive over the bridge to get Taco Bus food. Now, Taco Bus fans can get their fix in the Grand Central neighborhood of St Pete. It did take us awhile before we actually were able to make our order at the new Taco Bus because every time we drove by for weeks, the line was so long that we decided not to stop. However, at long last, we drove by and saw only three people in line and knew our time had come. We knew what we wanted, so ordering was easy. We opted for the meal deal that gives you a choice of two tacos or one burrito and rice and beans. We love the Barbacoa, or stewed beef, so that is what we all went for. Along with that we got some beer and soda for our drinks and grabbed a table while waiting for our food. After a reasonable wait, our food arrived and we found we had the same good food we enjoyed at the Tampa Taco Bus. Definitely happy to have Taco Bus in the neighborhood!

Taco Bus

2324 Central Avenue

St Petersburg, FL 33712

727-322-5000

Unexpected Journeys.........

2011-04-20T14:18:00.000-04:00

I recently found out that life sometimes takes one on unexpected journeys. I took a break from my blog. On January 1, 2011(yes, exactly on the first day of the year), I began to experience a strange set of symptoms. I was dizzy, had trouble swallowing, tingling in my hands and feet, facial numbness, etc.. I went from being able to run 3 miles to having a hard time walking even one block, and this all happened literally overnight. Sitting at the computer and typing was painful. I was hospitalized for a few days, but no cause was found for my illness. This was a very troubling time and I lost 25 pounds during this time period, without much help from my primary care physician during almost two months of suffering with no answers. Office visits consisted of hour waits in the waiting room and two minutes to see the doctor, thank you very much. Finally, it like a wise idea that I switch my primary care physician.

So, my husband suggested I try his primary care physician, who he has seen for a number of years. Wow, what a world of difference a dedicated and caring physician makes. My new physician very methodically spent time questioning me about my symptoms and got the ball rolling on ordering a number of tests and he sent me to see a neurologist. The neurologist was almost sure of my condition from walking in the door, but he ordered a number of blood tests and an MRI to rule out other conditions. Within two weeks of undergoing a number of tests, I had my answer and I was diagnosed with Cervical Dystonia. This is a neurological movement disorder that causes painful contractions of the muscles of the neck and this is a condition that is incurable, but can be treated for relief of symptoms. In my case, my neck muscles are so spastic that the cervical area of my spine is straight, rather than with a natural curve. Everyone experience dystonia differently, but this was the cause of my very strange symptoms.

At this point, with treatment, I have relief of about 50% of my symptoms, and I hope to have further relief in the future. I am able to get out more and enjoy life once again. And, I am able to start writing my blog again, yay! I will continue to write about restaurants, but I want to start exploring other topics and writing about other things, too.

As I final note, I had never heard of dystonia before I was affected by it, so for those of you who have never heard of this condition and want to learn more about it, you can learn about it at these sites:

http://www.dystonia-foundation.org/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dystonia

Taking a break from Scallywag Journeys....

2011-03-04T14:43:00.000-05:00

Hi Everyone,

Well, 2011 has not seen a lot of activity on my blog. As you know who are regular readers of my blog, in January I posted about getting sick. By then, I thought a short time would see me well enough to soon continue writing my blog and contributing to the food connoisseur. Unfortunately, this was not to be the case, and I am still having medical problems. After long and hard thought, I decided I need to pay attention and take care of my health first. I see there are some very fine blogs out there, that can provide information about local restaurants. Hopefully, my future will see a healthier me and I can start back again. I wish everyone a nice and happy food experience in the Tampa Bay area.

Love to all,

Kelly

Biff Burger - Kenneth City (St Petersburg), FL

2011-02-14T14:14:00.000-05:00

I love Biff Burger for more than one reason. First, it brings to mind a fast food joint in existence in the 70's, back when I was a young girl living in Minnesota. It was a Quik Stop restaurant and I have fond memories of going there with my family and when I go to Biff's, it brings back those memories. And of course, I love Biff Burger for their great burgers and lowwww prices, wow! Also, Biff shares space with its partner restaurant Buffy's BBQ, where you can order from, also.

On the day we dined there, we all had burgers. There are a number of ways you can have your burger, with a regular bun, or a larger, sesame seed bun, and with different toppings. However, you get them, they are juicy and delicious, and not for someone on a diet. If you want fries, order according to the size of your party to share. We found the fries to be nice and crispy and very good. The whole meal was pure bliss. When your done eating, your server will give you your check to take to the window, then off you go after finishing a great meal!

Biff Burger
3939 49th Street North
St Petersburg, FL 33709
727-527-5297

Royal Brownie Company - Downtown St Petersburg, FL

2011-02-14T14:01:00.000-05:00

I did not even know this new, little spot was in existence until walking down Central Avenue, we beheld a sign pointing us towards the Royal Brownie Co. located on 6th Street. This is a very tiny shop, but everything you need is located right in the display case as you walk in the door. The Hershey chocolate candle on the table also helped to contribute, by wafting its delicious chocolate aroma over us as we looked at the brownies. As we needed to continue our walk, and didn't want to be overburdened with chocolatey goodness, we got one of the candy sprinkle brownies to share. Yummy, it was the perfect treat for our afternoon walk. If you are looking for a chocolate treat, head over to the Royal Brownie Co.

Royal Brownie Co.
4 6th Street North
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-238-7226

Central Coffee Shoppe - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2011-02-14T09:41:00.000-05:00

This is a casual little diner located on the 500 block of Central Avenue in downtown St Petersburg and they are open for breakfast and lunch. Inside, the walls are dominated by Marilyn Monroe. For seating, you can grab a table, or one of the red stools at the counter. Of course, we just had to sit at the stools because my son just loves the old style stools. Service here is friendly and laid back and they are prompt at getting a cup of coffee, or whatever you may be drinking, out to you.

On the day we dined there we ordered the corned beef hash with eggs done your way, homefries, and toast. Also, we ordered pancakes, and a veggie omelette with grits and toast alongside. The pancakes and omelette were good, but the corned beef hash breakfast was a definite favorite of ours. A great little hole in the wall to grab an early morning breakfast, or stop in for lunch.

Central Coffee Shoppe
530 Central Avenue
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-821-1125

Gratzzi Italian Grille - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2011-01-24T17:46:00.000-05:00

Gratzzi Italian Grille is without a doubt the top place for Italian food in downtown St Pete. For a couple of months I walked by and eagerly awaited the opening of the restaurant to see what it would bring. My family and I had dined there when they were located at Baywalk and had enjoyed the food, but didn't much care for the location. After what seemed like a long wait, Gratzzi finally opened at their new location, and we were wowed! The restaurant is elegant and just the place to gather with family or for a romantic meal. You have a choice of dining at the tables inside or out on the sidewalk, or at the beautiful bar inside. We first dined at Gratzzi the week of their soft opening when they had a limited menu, and we have been back several times, since then.

Once seated, the service was quick and friendly. My husband enjoyed a nice glass of red wine and water for me, and soon a basket of bread arrived along with a plate of bruschetta, which is standard. Following that, we tried the bean soup that was served along with the entree, or one can choose the salad instead. The soup was great and surprisingly large as an accompaniment to the main course. For dinner, my husband and I both ordered the same thing, the Pesto-Parmesan Risotto with grilled salmon on top. My son ordered the Roasted Salmon on Cedar Plank served with Mango Chutney and grilled asparagus. Both of the dishes were wonderful and the risotto was served with a generous portion of salmon. After all of that, there was no room left for dessert.

We have ordered food to take home from there for the last month, while I have been out, and have been really impressed. The pizza there is awesome. When my parents came to visit me from Minnesota, we sent them there to have an evening out, and they were also happy with their meal. We are very happy to have this addition to St Pete.

Gratzzi Italian Grille

211 2nd Street South

St Petersburg, FL 33701

727-623-9037

OUT Sick...........

2011-01-21T13:17:00.000-05:00

I have not posted anything, since December, because I have been out sick. I have to say, so far, 2011 has not been good for me. I spent 3 days in the hospital, and I am recovering verrrry slowly at home, but the doctors are just kinda guessing what's wrong, but they don't really know anything definitive. Flu Virus acting weird? GERD? autoimmune(your body cant't tell a flu or cold virus from your own body)? I am fortunate to have good health insurance, but even with that, I see what a mess the healthcare systems is and I don't know what the answer is. I can't imagine what people without health insurance do?

However, I do need to take my hat off to the nurses and patient care techs in our clinics and hospitals because I think they are the backbone of our system. When I see the amount of work they have to do, it amazes me. As for the doctors, I am reserving judgement. I started out with one doctor who diagnosed me in her office from her chair, without once getting up and at least listening to my heart of looking in my ears or sinuses. I think my current doctor is very good, but I am waiting an reserving judgement.

I will continue to write about restaurants and I have some posts waiting since December. (I have been too sick to go out the last few weeks.) However, I think this year, I would like to focus on healthcare and my experiences and I maybe would like to explore alternative medicine. Also, something I have been pondering, do we have too much information available to us about different illnesses and healthcare. Knowledge is power, but sometimes you can have too much information.

Conch Republic Grill - North Redington Beach, FL

2010-12-27T16:45:00.000-05:00

My family and I went over to the Conch Republic Grill for an afternoon of fun and seafood. The restaurant is casual and laid back and has a nice seafaring theme going on. We were seated at a booth in the corner, next to the window, and we rather felt like we were sitting in a boat. Our server here was very friendly and helpful throughout our meal.

We started off our meal with a couple of beers and two cups of the crab soup. I had heard the crab soup was good here and it was indeed! After a taste of the soup, we almost wished we had ordered bowls instead and just ate that because it was so good. Nevertheless, on to the seafood. We tried the salmon stuffed with crab, the coconut shrimp, and the shrimp fest with cajun shrimp and shrimp scampi. Along with your entrees, you get your choice of sides and we all ordered something different, so we could sample the different sides. We tried the mashed potatoes, black beans and rice, and linguine marinara. The salmon was good, but I think we all liked the shrimp entree's the best. As for the sides, the pasta was okay, but we liked the mashed potatoes and beans and rice more. Overall, it was a good experience with friendly service. Our entrees were good, but I would be willing to go back for the crab soup alone. As a final note, the servings are HUGE. After our cup of soup, my husband and I could have easily shared an entree and been satisfied.

Conch Republic Grill
16699 Gulf Blvd
North Redington Beach, FL 33708
727-320-0536

Caragiulos Italian Restaurant - Sarasota, FL

2010-12-27T15:11:00.000-05:00

My family and I made the journey over to Sarasota, after a trip to Myakka River State Park, and enjoyed lunch at Caragiulos in Sarasota. The restaurant is on a lovely location on Palm Avenue. Inside and outside, the restaurant looks very cool. On the outside is a brick front, and inside are walls covered in old movie posters. My son was fascinated by the tables which had pictures and trivia on Marlon Brando. Overall, the way the restaurant was decorated created a comfy and relaxed atmosphere.

Our server quickly took our drink and food orders and along with our drinks, he brought a nice basket of focaccia bread. Soon, our food arrived. We decided to try the cheese pizza and an order of the four cheese ravioli with wilted spinach in a pomodoro sauce. The pizza is single serving size, but delicious and enough for two people, if you have a light appetite. I really loved the four cheese ravioli. Our server was good about coming back and checking if we needed anything or drink refills. At the end, your check comes with chocolate mints, which is a nice closing touch.

Caragiulo's
69 South Palm Avenue
Sarasota, FL
941-951-0866

Cafe Epicure - Sarasota, FL

2010-12-27T14:46:00.000-05:00

Whenever we have been in downtown Sarasota, we always walk by Cafe Epicure, but we never had the chance to stop in and try the food. They serve Italian food here, which is one of our favorites because there always seems to be something for everyone. Finally, we made it in the door this last weekend. The inside is very eye appealing with its lovely tiled floor, red chairs, and ceiling that is painted like the sky. A chalkboard on the wall displays the specials of the day. We stopped in the middle of a quiet afternoon, so we got a nice table near the windows and overlooking the tables on the sidewalk.

We were not quite ready to eat a full meal yet, so we decided to try a couple of appetizers and some wine. With our wine, we tried the fried mozzarella with a dipping sauce and anchovies. Also, we tried the sauteed shrimp with tomatoes and arugula, which was delicious and more than adequate for three people to share. Both dishes were lovely and wonderful to enjoy with a nice glass of red wine. Along with the appetizers, we were served a basket of assorted breads, which was very nice. And I must add that the service here was excellent.

Cafe Epicure
1298 North Palm Avenue
Sarasota, FL 34236
941-366-5648

Vito and Michael's Pizzeria - St Pete Beach, FL

2010-12-27T09:38:00.000-05:00

My family and I wanted to try a new pizza joint, so we headed over to St Pete Beach one evening to try Vito and Michael's Pizzeria. We almost missed it driving by, but soon we were inside, which felt nice and cozy on such cold evening. The first thing we noticed was the place was bustling, with plenty of customers at the take out counter and dining at the tables inside. The service was no-nonsense, but polite, because there were plenty of customers dining. Our server was quick to take our drink order of beer and wine, and while she was doing that, we looked over the menu and easily made our choices.

We very rarely have anything other than cheese pizza, and tonight was no exception. We like our pizza to be simple with a little sauce, cheese, and fresh basil on top, and perhaps a little olive oil drizzled on top when it is brought to the table. We did want to try one pasta dish, so we ordered the cheese stuffed shells, which came with a green salad and garlic bread. While we were waiting for our food, we were given a basket of bread. After a reasonable wait, our pizza and pasta dish arrived. The pizza was awesome and the fresh basil on top was perfect. The cheese stuffed pasta shells were pure comfort food and delicious. I would definitely recommend giving this a try.

Vito and Michael's Pizzeria
7704 Blind Pass Road
St Pete Beach, FL 33706
727-360-3658

Green Chili Indian Bistro - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2010-12-23T15:32:00.000-05:00

I have been walking by the Green Chili Bistro, since it first opened, but I have never gotten around to trying it. Luckily, a friend recently invited my family and I to celebrate her birthday there with a few friends. Low lighting made for a nice ambiance inside and the nice aromas coming from the kitchen were very tantalizing. As we were a large party, the restaurant had put some tables together to accommodate all of us, and luckily they have plenty of space to do this without making anyone feel crowded.

To start off, the server brought our drinks and a complimentary papadum(a slightly spicy, cracker-like round). For our entrees, we ordered the Saag(spinach) chicken, the chicken Makhani, and the shrimp curry. Also, we ordered a tandoori naan(flatbread) for each person. You can order your level of spiciness for you food, so we chose medium spicy for all of our entrees, which turned out to be perfect. It was a pleasant kick of heat, without being overbearing. All of the dishes came in a nice rich sauce which was perfect for the rice that comes with your entree, or for dipping your naan. Overall, a very pleasant experience and a wonderful time with friends. Also, they do offer a buffet a lunch time, so next time I might have to try that out.

Green Chili Indian Bistro
310 Central Avenue
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-894-3663

Island Seafood Market and Bistro - St Petersburg, FL

2010-12-23T14:59:00.000-05:00

There are so many reasons that I love the Grand Central District in St Petersburg, and the Island Seafood Market and Bistro just gave me one more reason to go over to the Grand Central District. Driving by them on Central Avenue, their yellow storefront draws one into a cozy bistro inside. Inside, you can order fresh seafood from the market to take home and cook yourself, or grab one of the tables and order something from the menu.

On our visit for lunch there, we started off with a couple of beers and the Island Quesadilla. The quesadilla was wonderful with its cheddar cheese and seafood spread filling. The quesadilla comes with a nice dipping sauce. After that, we had the Blackened Red Snapper sandwich, fish tacos, and grilled shrimp served over jasmine rice. Each entree comes with a bag of potato chips. We were all very happy with our choices and were impressed with how fresh the seafood tasted. When I am in the need for good seafood close to downtown, this is definitely the place for me.

Island Seafood Market and Bistro
2057 Central Avenue
St. Petersburg, FL 33713
727-821-8181

Grand Central Perc - St Petersburg, FL

2010-12-07T21:06:00.000-05:00

The Grand Central District has a great new addition in Central Perc, a coffee and tea place. Central Perc just opened and I have to say I am impressed already. Owner Bob Jeffries has some awesome art on the wall and they have cute little tables spread throughout the space. They have a small, but well thought out menu. For breakfast, one can order an egg and cheese croissant, or choose from a selection of baked goods. For lunch, there is a selection of sandwiches and a soup of the day. On the day we were there, we ordered the egg and cheese croissant and a mixed berry muffin to share while we were waiting for our sandwiches. For drinks, we ordered an americano coffee, a cappuccino, and a hot chocolate. The americano coffee was excellent and I even ordered a second one while enjoying our food because I thought it was so good and my husband and son were equally happy with their drinks. We really enjoyed the mixed berry muffin that was made with whole wheat and lightly sweetened with a streusel topping. The egg and cheese croissants were very good and we left very happy and this will become a neighborhood favorite for us.

Grand Central Perc

2444 Central Avenue

St Petersburg, FL 33712

727-498-8870

Cha Cha Coconuts at the Pier- St Petersburg, FL

2010-12-07T20:49:00.000-05:00

Although my family and I often go past the pier on our runs, we don't actually go inside the pier too often. So, one afternoon, when we were out on a walk, we decided on the spur of the moment to take the elevator to the top of the pier. The pier is an excellent location to get a great view of downtown St Pete. My son is still young enough that he thinks it is fun to put a quarter in the viewing binoculars to see things up real close. While we were up there, my husband thought it would be cool to take photos of downtown when the sunset arrived. However, when we looked at our watch, we still had a bit of a wait for sunset, so we decided to go over to Cha Cha Coconuts, which is a restaurant located on the top level of the pier. So, we had some root beers, chicken wings, and popcorn shrimp and by time we were done, we saw a beautiful sunset...., what a wonderful moment.

Cha Cha Coconuts

@ the St Pete Pier

800 2nd Avenue NE

St Petersburg, FL 3370

727-822-6655

The Frog Pond - St Pete Beach, FL

2010-12-07T20:14:00.000-05:00

Frogs, frogs, and more frogs is what my family and I saw when we walked in the door to the Frog Pond. It was really quite endearing to see the frog nicknacks and paintings that seemed to be everywhere on the walls and shelves in the restaurant. The restaurant is a casual sort of place and has a nice country kitchen sort of feel with very friendly and helpful servers.

After we chose a table, our server was quick to take our drink order and tell us the specials of the day. After my son heard chocolate chip pancakes were the special of the day, it was easy for him to decide what he would be having for breakfast. I was already in a pancake sort of mood, so I ordered the standard buttermilk pancakes. For my husband, the "Krab" Crepes sounded just like the perfect thing. After a reasonable wait, our food arrived. The portions were HUGE. Our pancakes plates each held big pancakes and the Krab crepes were hardy portions, also including large portions of fried potatoes and fruit. As an added bonus, the syrup brought to the table was warmed up, so no cold syrup to cool the pancakes down. The pancakes were absolutely delicious. The chocolate chip pancakes were so good by themselves that they didn't even need syrup and I loved my pancakes with the warm syrup. The Krab crepe was good and we especially loved the fried potatoes served with them. The nice thing about the large portions was that it was easy for us to share, but we still ended up leaving quite a bit of food just because the portions were so big. Also, I have to say the servers were very good about frequently circulating around the restaurant with the coffee pots, so I never had a empty cup. A good experience, with portions big enough for sharing.

The Frog Pond

7390 Gulf Blvd

St Pete Beach, FL 33706

727-363-7205

Dome Grill - downtown St. Petersburg, FL

2010-11-30T20:25:00.000-05:00

I heard the Dome restaurant is almost like an institution in downtown St. Pete, so I had to go check it out. We enjoyed waking up late on a Sunday, and then took a nice leisurely walk over to the Dome. It is located right on Central Avenue and is nothing remarkable to look at from the outside, but more interesting on the inside. Sports memorabilia was lined up on some portions of the walls, and green was definitely the accent color here. I especially like the boxing belt located up by the counter. When you come in, grab a menu and place your order at the counter and you pay for you food at the same time. The cashier will give you a receipt with your number and you can grab a table and wait for you number to be called. Before grabbing a table, take your cup and pour your coffee, soda, or whatever you ordered. There is seating inside or outside. We opted to dine inside.

It was about a ten minute wait for our food, which was reasonable. For breakfast, we ordered the veggie omelette, with toast and grits on the side. Also, we ordered pancakes and a burger and fries. (Yes, one of us likes breakfast for lunch.) Don't forget to pick up any of your condiments you need upfront, so that you don't need to be running back and forth, while eating. Overall, it was a pleasant dining experience and a nice place for all ages.

Dome Grill

561 Central Avenue

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

727-823-5090

King & I - downtown St. Petersburg, FL

2010-11-30T19:50:00.000-05:00

In the mood for Thai food on a lovely Saturday afternoon, my family and I took a walk over to the King & I restaurant located on Central Avenue. Being the middle of the afternoon, it was a bit quiet, but seemed to have a nice, steady trickle of customers, nonetheless. The restaurant is pleasing to the eyes, with its lovely bright colors. Our server put us in a nice booth with a good view of the restaurant and the sushi bar.

Our server was very efficient and quickly took our order. We ordered the spring rolls, the green curry, and the chicken pad thai. We weren't aware of it when we ordered, but apparently each entree comes with a small spring roll and soup, which was lovely because I really liked the soup. Next, our entrees. I really liked the chicken pad thai, but the green curry with chicken was my absolute favorite. It was refreshing with the taste of coconut and it had just the right amount of heat. There was more than enough food for the three of us to share and we enjoyed our dining experience.

King & I

445 Central Avenue

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

727-898-8056

Madeleina Cottage - St. Pete Beach, FL

2010-11-26T16:36:00.000-05:00

We noticed this cute little spot on a previous visit to St. Pete Beach, and we were very curious to come back and give it a try. We stopped in on a late Saturday morning, when everyone was just beginning to get out and about. Madeleina's is a British Style pub, but with a bit of everything on the menu. The color blue seems to be the theme, from the booths and walls, to the coasters and salt and pepper shakers on the tables. We grabbed a booth overlooking the huge bar that dominated the room and which was occupied by a number of patrons.

We started our brunch with coffee and mimosas, both of which were very good. Also, I feel I ought to mention that mimosas were a bargain at $3.00. (We noticed later on signs on the window advertising $3.00 mimosas and $2.50 Bloody Mary's - be sure to ask your server for details.) For food, we ordered the corned beef hash and eggs, Welsh Rarebit (melted cheese and beer fondue served over toast), and pancakes. The portions were huge and perfect for sharing with each other. Usually, I have my favorites when I dine out, but in this case, the food was all very good comfort food. The corned beef hash was excellent and the cheesy Welsh Rarebit went great with the mimosas and it was nice to eat something a little bit different for brunch. And the pancake was yummy, only I maybe would have liked it to be served with a different brand of syrup than the one served with it. Altogether, nice service and good food. Now, I just have to go back some evening and try the Shepard's pie.

Madeleina Cottage
357 Corey Avenue
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
727-367-1727

A run, then Beverly's La Croisette - St Pete Beach, FL

2010-11-21T22:36:00.000-05:00

Now that we have left our sweltering summer weather behind, weather is perfect for outdoor running and I can flee the monotony of the treadmill. With that in mind, my family and I headed over to Fort DeSoto Park and enjoyed a lovely four mile run. After our run, we were more than ready to find something to eat. Even though it was noon, some of us were ready for breakfast and one of us wanted lunch. Beverly's La Croisette was the perfect spot to fit everybody's needs. Beverly's is a nice and bright cafe located on Gulf Boulevard. It is nothing fancy, but it has a lot of character. I especially loved the pencil drawings on the wall of famous people, like Elvis, among others. There is booth seating or tables and chairs. We grabbed a booth next to the window and in the corner, so that we could see the whole room.

We started off by ordering a couple of mimosas. We ordered the Bungee omelette with "Krab," mushrooms, and cheese which was good, but not my favorite. However, I loved the Parametier omelette, which was filled with fried potatoes and swiss cheese. Along with your omelette order, you get a choice of sides and we chose the grits and the home fries. The grits weren't very good and we didn't take more than one bite, but the home fries were nicely seasoned and very good. Also, we loved the choice of toast or croissant for bread, and we both chose the croissant, which was nice. My son ordered a burger and fries, which was very good. Along with all of this, we ordered on pancake that was huge and we all enjoyed sharing that as it was a mighty tasty pancake. This was a very lovely spot and great for locals and tourists, alike.

Beverly's La Croisette

7401 Gulf Boulevard

St. Pete Beach, FL 33706

727-360-2253

La Petite Brasserie - Clearwater, FL

2010-11-16T22:21:00.000-05:00

Wow, Wilko did it again! He opened another restaurant that shares the same great quality of its sister restaurant, the St. Pete Brasserie. My family and I took the short trek over to Clearwater to check out the new place that was located in a nice, quiet residential neighborhood. It is great for those who live north of downtown St. Pete and don't want to make the trek downtown, or for those who want to get out of downtown St. Pete. It rather reminded me of Minneapolis, where you would find all sorts of hidden gems in neighborhood spots in the metropolis area. It is a cozy and warm spot to get away from it all after work, or to enjoy a weekend reward after a busy work week. It was a rather romantic spot with walls that were a wonderful burnt orange and covered with wine bottles and lovely art. The ceiling had a nice industrial feel to it, that again was very metropolitan. Grab a spot in the corner if you want to watch the whole room or to be away from the center of things with your sweetheart.

For those of you have dined at the St. Pete Brasserie, the menu looks to be pretty much the same, with good value and quality combined. For those of you who have not dined at St Pete Brasserie, I will tell you about some of my favorite dishes that we tried at La Petite Brasserie. The crab cake is excellent along with the french onion soup. My husband loves the rich vegetable risotto and I love the ultimate comfort food - Beef Bourguignon. My son loves the Brasserie Burger with its Brie cheese. And if you have room, La Petite Brasserie has some of the most amazing fries and you have to try them with their aioli dipping sauce. Altogether, our experience was wonderful, with great food and good service. La Petite Brasserie is sure to be a winner and one that I would recommend you try.

La Petite Brasserie
2245 Nursery Road
Clearwater, FL 33764
727-823-3700

The Saturday Morning Market - St Petersburg, FL

2010-11-14T12:43:00.000-05:00

Some of my favorite places are just steps away. Once such place that doesn't require much of a journey is the Saturday morning market located in downtown St. Petersburg on First Avenue South and First Street. Per the Market's website, here, the market began in November 2002. Back then, I remember when it was a lot smaller and located on Central Avenue. Although I love the market as much as ever, I wish it was still on Central Avenue and they had closed down a few more blocks of Central to accommodate the ever expanding market. One business owner I spoke to back when they first moved to their current location, said they really lost a lot of Saturday morning and early afternoon business when the market moved. I guess the one advantage to the Market's current location is that they don't need to close down any streets as the market is located in the parking lot of Al Lang Field, the old training stadium of the Rays.

After being closed down for the summer months this year, it was great when the Saturday Market opened again this October. Better yet, the weather has been beautiful, so I have seen huge crowds at the market. The market draws an eclectic crowd and it is a great place to people watch, while perusing the market. If you are lucky enough to get one before they are all taken, you can grab a table or a chair and sit down and enjoy your food and listen to the live music that is playing. One of my favorite spots is Empanada World where I almost always get a chicken empanada. On a recent visit, I bought local honey. There is everything to be found from crepes, hot food, breakfast, baked goods, jewelry, clothing, and fresh fruit and vegetables. So, sleep in on Saturday and when you wake up head over to the Saturday Morning Market for a relaxing Saturday.

Saturday Morning Market
Downtown St. Petersburg
Al Lang parking lot
1st Ave South and 1st Street
Open October 2, 2010 - May 28, 2011

Acropolis Taverna - Ybor City, FL

2010-11-11T21:12:00.000-05:00

We have dined several times at the St Petersburg Acropolis since their recent opening and it is fast becoming on of our favorites. Recently, we tried the Acropolis in Ybor and found the same great food. Also, like the St. Petersburg Acropolis, the restaurant is on two different levels. The main difference is the bottom floor of the Ybor is divided into two different rooms and the St Petersburg space feels a lot more open. Like I said, the food is great and the gyros here are perfect, especially with their great greek beer. We always need to end with the baklava, but on our last dining experience we also tried something new along with the baklava - the Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake. It was very rich and decadent and a perfect ending to our meal, but the baklava is still my favorite, mmmmm.

Acropolis Taverna

1833 East 7th Avenue

Ybor City(Tampa), FL 33605

813-242-4545

Columbia Restaurant - Ybor City, FL

2010-11-11T20:46:00.000-05:00

I have dined at the Columbia Restaurant in St. Petersburg and Sarasota, but never at the location that started it all - the Columbia Ybor City. This location was first opened in 1905 and their website details their history throughout six generations. While the other restaurants share the same food, style and flavor, it is an interesting experience to dine at the original. Parking is available for Columbia diners only in a lot behind the restaurant and from behind, one gets a real sense of how huge the restaurant is, in fact. One of my favorite features of the restaurant are the colorful tiles outside and inside the restaurant and it is something to pay close attention. The restaurant is very happy for patrons to get up during their dining experience and wander around the restaurant and check out various rooms. Go upstairs and look down on the floor below or take a peek in the king's room. Also, they have a large banquet room. There are many rooms and it could be easy to get lost. We were seated in the courtyard room, which gave a nice open feel.

The service here is very efficient and friendly. First drink orders of wine and sangria, and then hot cuban bread arrives for each diner with plenty of butter to slather on. I liked the sangria, but after trying a taste of my husband's Don Cesar tinto, I ordered that for my second drink. We decided to try different tapas for our dining experience. We tried the shrimp and crabmeat alcacho, which is baked in a casserole dish and served with crackers for dipping. Also, we tried the devil crab croquettes, the Shrimp Ajillo, and the Albondigas(beef meatballs). It was all very good, and perfect for sharing among the three of us. Altogether, it was a very enjoyable experience with good food in a delightful atmosphere.

Columbia Restaurant

2117 East 7th Avenue

Ybor City, FL 33605

813-248-4961

Square One Burgers - Tampa, FL

2010-11-10T20:45:00.000-05:00

OH MY! I was in burger heaven tonight. A traffic jam led us on a self-chosen detour to this place and it was a very happy turn of events. The tall red cornerstone of the Square One Burger restaurant calls your name. Inside the restaurant is a colorful scene with red walls, red booths, and dark wooden tables, and strings of light. We were promptly seated at one of the tables along the back overlooking the whole restaurant from kitchen to bar.

I am going to devote my only complaint of the evening to this paragraph and I hope management is reading this because this is something that needs to be worked on, in an otherwise perfect establishment. While soft drinks for our son came out fast, getting adult beverages was a slow and tedious process and we were drinking bottled beers, so I am not sure what the hold up was tonight. Our server took our drink order for our beers and she continually went up to the bar and looked at the bartender and even checked in one of the coolers, but no beer. After a long wait, our beers arrived. Again, we later ordered a second round of drinks when our food arrived. We were almost done with our food when our drinks arrived. Our server kept apologizing that our drink was not ready yet, and obviously they are not allowed to grab the beers themselves, due to the proper procedural chain. I am sure there is a reason management does it this way, but a person should not need to wait until their food is almost gone to get a bottle of beer.

Okay, enough of the negative stuff because despite what I wrote above, this was a great place. If you get a chance try the Orange Blossom beer made with orange blossom honey which was very good and I loved the honey taste. For starters, we ordered a half dozen of the "Frickin Hot Sweet Chili Chicken Wings." They were awesome and tasted like something cooked in a smoker. I would go back for the wings alone. Among the three of us, we ordered three different burgers and we all tried a bit of each. We ordered the All-American Squared(double patties), the Old Fashioned Burger, and 3-Mushroom Cheeseburger. For sides, we tried the fries and the fried jalepenos, which were good. All of the burger were juicy and had great flavor. My favorite was the 3-Mushroom with Gruyere Cheese. You can choose your burger from the burger list, or build your own burger with a dizzying assortment of choices. If you like the more exotic, they make ostrich burgers, kobe beef burgers, and a Shashimi Tuna Steak burger. The food was prompt, when it arrived in the kitchen windows, it was immediately brought out to the table. Definitely, a must try burger joint, with a more upscale edge, great food, and one I would not hesitate to pay a visit to again.

Square One Burgers
3701 North Henderson Road
Tampa, FL 33609
813-414-0101

Messineo's Gourmet Market - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2010-11-09T17:03:00.000-05:00

I was really happy when I heard that downtown St Petersburg was getting a small gourmet market. The market is located in the space previously occupied by the Atlanta Bread Company. The space is small, and while they do offer a small choice of groceries, they do have a well thought out selection and it is a nice alternative to going to Publix. Some of the things they offer are meat, seafood, poultry, fresh vegetables, a bakery, dairy, cheese, a deli, and hot soup, to name just a few. I like to stop over in the morning and grab a coffee and a bakery item to go, or for lunch a hot soup is a good take-out item. For those who want to stay and enjoy their food immediately, Messineo's offers sidewalk seating outside, with umbrella covered tables for those hot days. About the only thing they are missing and what I would love to see is a small selection of wine and beer, so that one could get it all under one roof without any extra stops. However, it is still convenient for the neighborhood and it only adds a plus to downtown.

Messineo's Gourmet Market
179 1st Avenue North
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-895-1500

Lucky Dill Deli - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2010-11-09T16:42:00.000-05:00

When in a deli sort of mood, I head to my own neighborhood spot, Lucky Dill. Lucky Dill is located on Central Avenue in the heart of things. Weekdays are especially busy as it is a popular lunch spot for office workers, which is always a good sign that you will be getting something good. You can grab a spot inside, or there are a number of tables on the sidewalk to watch and enjoy downtown activity.

We tend to stop in for lunch and we always think about ordering something else, but we always end up ordering the traditional Reuben. It is big enough for sharing, depending upon appetite, and it is delicious. Usually, I don't like to get too loaded down at lunch time, or I feel like sleeping the day away, so sharing is perfect for us. They offer some non-traditional Rubens, also. My son, the burger lover, enjoys getting his burgers here, which are very good. Previously, they were only open for breakfast and lunch, but it looks like they have extended their hours later in the evening, which is good for offering more options downtown in the evening for casual dining. Maybe one of these days, I will venture over and try breakfast.

Lucky Dill Deli
277 Central Avenue
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-895-5859

Pincho y Pincho - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2010-11-09T16:25:00.000-05:00

After a Sunday morning run, Pincho y Pincho is a regular favorite of the family for Sunday brunch. Pincho y Pincho is part of Ceviche and is a small bar and coffee shop that serves breakfast and lunch. Your biggest challenge will being able to snag a table, especially on the weekend. Seating space is limited to seating around the bar and there are a few small tables on the floor. However, when the weather is nice, they offer a number of tables on the sidewalk.

Sunday there are $4 specials on sangria's, Bloody Mary's, and mimosas, so be sure to check that out before ordering your drinks. So, drinks in hand, we are ready to order and we all have our favorites. My son almost always orders the Gambas Al Ajillo. These are gulf shrimp cooked in garlic and olive oil and served with a slice of lemon to drizzle on top. They are delicious and good for dipping hot bread in, but make sure to ask for a basket at Pincho y Pincho because normally bread is served only upon request, unlike Ceviche. My favorite is the Filletito, which is sliced tenderloin with Cabrales bleu cheese and served with some greens. And for my husband, the Pincho croissant stuffed with scrambled eggs and cheese is a favorite. A really great spot to spend a lazy Sunday.

Pincho y Pincho
10 Beach Drive
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-209-2302

Central Avenue Oyster Bar - downtown St Petersburg, FL

2010-11-08T16:37:00.000-05:00

As indicated by its name, this restaurant is located on Central Avenue right in the heart of things. Its brick front and window kind of draw one into the restaurant. The inside of the restaurant is very cozy and warm with its long brick wall that stretches all the way to the back of the restaurant. Also charming are the lights that resemble streetlights down the length of that same wall and the great art that contributes to the atmosphere. As it was late afternoon, we preferred to grab a comfortable spot at the bar.

My husband ordered a glass of Riesling while I enjoyed a lovely Cosmo. As we were dining somewhere else that evening, we ordered a couple of appetizers to share. We decided on the Mother's Mussels and the shrimp cocktail. The shrimp cocktail was very good and the sauce had a very nice bite. Equally delicious were the Mother's Mussels that were served in a garlic basil wine sauce. The mussel sauce was also nice for dipping bread, if you could get past the yummy dipping sauce that was served with the bread. The service and appetizers were so nice that I almost wished we didn't have reservations elsewhere. However, that leaves me the delight of going back another time and trying more of the menu because I think this will become one of my downtown favorites.

Central Avenue Oyster Bar
249 Central Avenue
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727-897-9728

Cafe Luna - St Pete Beach, FL

2010-11-08T16:12:00.000-05:00

Located in an unremarkable looking strip of shops on Gulf Boulevard in St. Pete Beach, is the rather remarkable Cafe Luna. Once you step inside the softly lit, romantic setting, one almost forgets about the outside world. The cafe is a very small and intimate space with a choice of regular seating or booths for those who want to get cozy. Wine racks line some of the wall space and help add to the charm. The service was very friendly, yet non-intrusive.

Cafe Luna serves wine and beer. We ordered a Riesling to have a nice, light taste to accompany our food. For our entrees, we chose the cheese pizza, a cup of the tomato basil soup, a crab cake, and the Snapper Italiano. My husband and son loved the cheese pizza, but I thought it was just okay because I tend to like a crisper crust than was served here. A big soup fan, I loved the tomato basil soup served with a slice of toast on the side. The crab cake was very good, too. Our favorite entree of the evening was the Snapper Italiano. The snapper was dusted with breadcrumbs and pan fried and topped with cheese, spinach, and a bruschetta mix and served with a seasoned rice. All of the servings were large and were great for sharing. It was a nice evening with good food and a relaxing surrounding. As a final note, I would probably call and make reservations, if you can, because the restaurant did fill up very fast on the night we were there.

Cafe Luna
6700 Gulf Boulevard
St. Pete Beach, FL 33706
727-360-7500