FloridaFoodHound

Final Two Weeks in Tampa

This post is a bit overdue, due to limited Net access until two days ago, but I thought some of you would still be interested in how our last two weeks of dining in Tampa went before our move up to Gainesville.

The weekend before last, we decided to stop into Castellano & Pizzo Italian Gourmet Foods on Henderson one last time.  This time, instead of bringing my parents, we went with Traci's dad.  In addition to enjoying another pressed Cuban sandwich, we also ordered dessert this time from their  bakery, too.  Mazzaro's is the king of local Italian markets/delis, but I will still miss Castellano & Pizzo.

We hadn't been to Interbay Meat Market in several months, but were looking for a cheap and quick meal one night that was close by and thought of Interbay.  On our previous visits, we had stuck to deli sandwiches, but on this visit we went with some of their cafeteria-style Cuban food.  It's hard to beat a big serving of ropa vieja, black beans and yellow rice for five bucks (and no, I don't want to think about how long that food may have been sitting there).  No frills and good food always works for me.

Speaking of no frills, we also stopped into El Taconazo aka "the Taco Bus" on Hillsborough in Seminole Heights one day for lunch.  While I didn't love the place after my first visit maybe a year ago, the Taco Bus has grown on me with each subsequent visit.  The "specials" for lunch - two soft tacos with refried beans and rice- are a good deal.  The tacos are small but tasty (you do have to be a fan of cilantro to like 'em) and the thick green hot sauce on the table makes things taste even better.  The Bus will be missed.

On our last week in town, in a break from packing, we hit Mel's Hot Dogs on Busch one day for lunch.  I ordered a "Reuben" dog and Traci went with a "Chicago" dog.  Mel's is a cool little place full of history and I'm glad that multiple readers suggested we visit Mel's before we moved.  Mel himself unfortunately wasn't there when we stopped in, which, from what I understand, is part of the unique experience.

I also re-visited another reader favorite, the Tampa Bay Brewing Company, one day for drinks after work.  To me, the  Brewing Company's new location in Centro Ybor doesn't have nearly the charm of their previous location a few blocks away, but the beer selection is still great (I'm a light beer wimp and like their True Blonde Ale the best).  The outdoor bar and patio area at the new location is a good addition.

We also couldn't leave town without having going-away drinks one night at Kahuna's, a favorite neighborhood dive bar of ours on Gandy across from Derby Lane.  The food at Kahuna's can be dicey, but the drinks are  stiff and priced right.  People that think this place has a rough crowd probably spend too much time in SOHO.

Finally, we went ahead and splurged with a Sunday brunch at the Don CeSar Hotel on St. Pete Beach.  While the Vinoy and Oystercatcher's may have better brunches, we have a warm spot for the Don since Traci grew up in South Pasadena/St. Pete Beach and we used to spend a lot of time in the area.  For me, the fresh seafood selection was the highlight of the brunch.  Traci liked the made-to-order pasta station.  We were also able to get a table near the window with a direct view of the beach and the gulf.

There's lots of additional local restaurants we would have liked to hit before we moved, but we ran out of time.  While some of the criticism of the Tampa Bay food scene is justified, the area certainly isn't starved for good food and good local restaurants either - if you know where/how to look.  Granted it does take time, effort, experimentation (you can't find "hits" without being willing to eat at a fair share of "misses" as well), talking with your friends and neighbors, and just keeping your eyes and ears open.

And with that, it's time to start focusing on restaurants here in Gainesville...
 

Ghetto Gourmet: Memorable Experience

We arrived at the Ghetto Gourmet ("GG") event on Sunday night at a house in Seminole Heights not really knowing what to expect.  While walking up to a house full of strangers made us both a little uncomfortable, we also liked the mystery and adventure of not knowing what was in store.

The first sign that we were in for an interesting evening was the old VW bus parked on the front lawn of the house.  Later in the evening we learned that this bus is owned by Sam Esser, a local drummer, who is a story in himself.  Our first impression after meeting everyone was that these were some of the friendliest strangers we've ever met.  While wine and beer certainly helped loosen things up, this was clearly a nice group of down-to-earth people who enjoy good food.

The group for the night numbered about fifteen.  Everyone sat around a long, low rectangular table like you would find in a Turkish or Moroccan restaurant.  GG co-founder Jeremy Townsend kicked the meal off with an introduction and history of GG (they've now done 250 events all over the U.S.), and then the dining extravaganza began.  First up was a poultry soup of sorts with a candied little orange filled with chamomile rice floating in the middle.  This was the only dish that I didn't like.

Next out was a spicy Korean-style salad with kim-chi, which was delicious.  Before serving the main  course, we went outside and were entertained by Sam Esser on his drum-set.  It turns out that Sam keeps his drum-set inside his VW bus and drives around to local bookstores and just starts playing - no joke.  This obviously attracts attention and at times other musicians, resulting in improvised jam sessions.  GG guests took turns taking quick lessons from Sam at his drum-set-on-wheels.   

The main course was Florida grass fed beef on white sweet potato with strawberry peppercorn sauce.  This was the best dish of the night in my view.  Dessert was a delicious Tupelo honey almond pound cake with lemon sauce.  Overall I'd rank this meal as comparable to the last great high-end dining experience we had, in this case at the Maritana Grille at the Don.  While fifty bucks a ticket for the GG event wasn't cheap (plus tip - whatever amount you decide), it was a deal in the context of what a four-course meal of this caliber would cost at a very nice restaurant, plus you wouldn't meet an interesting mix of new people, too.  Traci and I border on anti-social and enjoyed it.   

The guest chef for the evening was Tim Trojian.  Tim's culinary resume includes leading foraging expeditions for private groups up in Toronto and then cooking with these same local ingredients.  Robin and Tripp, the owners of the house and friends of Jeremy, were gracious hosts.

Photographer Bill Rogers of Windsong Productions took photos of the event.

GG is planning to hold another Tampa event in a few weeks.  You can find more information about future GG events on their website or by signing up for their mailing list. We had a really good time and I hope GG receives another local support to find it worthwhile to do future events here.      

Bottom-line:  GG isn't for everyone, and this isn't an inexpensive experience, but if you love good food, and want to see what an "underground dinner" is all about, you'll want to check out GG.   

Full disclosure: GG did provide us with one comp ticket to the event.  Traci's ticket we paid for out our pocket, plus tip for the night.  It was BYOB so we also made a visit to Total Wine on Dale Mabry.

Ghetto Gourmet Visiting Tampa

The Ghetto Gourmet, a self-described "wandering supperclub for lovers of fine cookin', cool art and new friends" is visiting Tampa this Sunday night, Feb 11- and you're invited.  I'll be going and so will Traci to cover the event.  Full disclosure: Ghetto Gourmet was nice enough to give us passes.

Started several years ago in an apartment in Oakland, California, this will be the first time this traveling supperclub stops in Tampa.  All that Ghetto Gourmet is saying at this point is that the location of the event is "near Sligh and Nebraska" (Seminole Heights).  The gang will share with you the specific address after you purchase your tickets, as well as the menu.  Seating is very limited and tickets are $50 each + BYOB + bring a floor cushion.  They accept dietary requests and seem to aim to please.   

If you're scratching your head wondering what the heck "community dining" is all about (and I was largely clueless), this video clip from a local Chicago news station answered most of my questions.   

The way one of the organizers explained it to me today is that the chef for the night usually works for one of the top restaurants in town.  So you get to enjoy top notch food at "more bang for your buck" prices and get to meet interesting new people in an unpretentious setting.  Plus, there's entertainment.  For the Tampa event there will be an interactive percussion session.   

To purchase tickets to the event this Sunday night, Feb 11, from 8-11pm, click here.  If you're interested, but this comes on too short notice, Ghetto Gourmet plans to hold another local event in several weeks.  There is a GG Tampa/Miami mailing list if you'd like to learn about future dates.   

Hope to meet some of you there.  Should be a fun time and I'll report back next week. 

El Taconazo: Taco Bus in Seminole Heights Good, Not Great

We were craving Mexican food this past Saturday so we decided to check out El Taconazo on Hillsborough Ave in Seminole Heights for lunch. El Taconazo, affectionally known as the "Taco Bus" to Seminole Heights residents, has won a variety of "best of" awards for its authentic Mexican food.

The tacqueria gained is nickname the "Taco Bus" thanks to the old school bus that sits out back the restaurant and has been converted into its kitchen.  The corporate feel of a Chipotle this is not.  Customers can walk up and order at the white bus or sit inside the small restaurant where there is table service.  We decided to grab a table inside since the outdoor seating around the bus was filled.

Traci and I both ordered the "special" - two tacos and refried beans and rice.  I decided to try a steak and a chicken taco, while Traci went with all chicken.  Service was quick.  The tacos weren't big, but were flavorful.  The homemade green chile sauce at the table went great on the tacos.  As for the refried beans and rice, I'm sure some people swear by them, but I wasn't impressed.

I'm glad we tried El Taconazo out, as the food is good and the prices are a real bargain, but for the best authentic Mexican in Tampa Bay my dollar is still on El Toro Negro in little Kenneth City.  If you think local "Tex-Mex" restaurants like Estela's and Miguel's are good Mexican, you owe it to yourself to try out El Taconazo or El Toro Negro to get a taste of the real thing.  Both ooze authenticity.

Finally, while it's not Mexican per se, I haven't found a better upscale Mexican/Southwest-style restaurant in Tampa Bay then Red Mesa on Fourth St. N. in St. Pete.  Have a favorite local Mexican or Southwestern restaurant that I've missed?  Post your favorite.  I'm always looking for new ideas!

Bottom-line: The legend of the Taco Bus may be bigger than the reality of the place, but it's still a good choice for authentic Mexican fare.  Be careful getting in and out of the tricky parking lot!

Inspection Scorecard: Last Inspection:  May 2006 violations - Critical (3), Non-Critical (2).