Food & Drink, Creative Loafing Tampa

Tiki revival: Mai Tais and marimbas

Arielle Stevenson — Thu, 23 May 2013 10:21:00 -0400

Four locals talk the rise, fall and revival of tiki culture. by Arielle Stevenson On a breezy Sunday afternoon, the view from the courtyard at the Sands Motel on Treasure Island opens onto a beachscape of dunes and sea grass. A bellhop cart carrying a 6-foot-tall hand-carved Sabal Palm Tiki god is parked near the motel’s built-in ping-pong table.…

Paradise found

Jon Palmer Claridge — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:01:00 -0400

Caretta on the Gulf redefines beach cuisine. by Jon Palmer Claridge One of the great perks of living on the Gulf Coast is the ability to be awed daily by breathtaking sunsets over the water. It’s a seductive lure for residents and tourists alike.…

Greece-y goodness

Katie Machol — Wed, 22 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Say “Opa!” to these Greek lamb sliders in pita pockets. by Katie Machol When it comes to burgers, quality meat can make a simple burger great, but flavorful additions will really put it over the top. Herbs and spices mixed into the meat, tasty toppings, quality cheeses and fancy buns will all contribute to making one stellar gourmet burger.…

Drinking it all in

Daniel Figueroa IV — Wed, 22 May 2013 03:59:00 -0400

A night of Beer, Bites & Brushes in the Warehouse District. by Daniel Figueroa IV The food was disappearing faster than it could come out. Florida Beer Company’s Thomas Barris shuttled trays of zucchini pasta out of the makeshift kitchen, deftly averting the long-haired tattooed guy, the woman in the cherry-blossom dress, and the guys in polos and cargo shorts.…

It’s R Bar

Tom Scherberger — Thu, 16 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Welcome to Treasure Island’s newest brewpub. by Tom Scherberger It’s 10 to 6 on a Thursday night at Tampa Bay’s newest brewpub and the bar is already thick with diners, mostly older, white-haired regulars tucking into the all-you-can-eat special. Tonight it’s snow crabs, tomorrow catfish.…

Hot shots

Joe Castagna — Thu, 16 May 2013 03:59:00 -0400

Zoya hosts a shot battle for the new summer menu. by Joe Castagna Thursday in Ybor City, Zoya hosted its third annual shot competition; one new shot out of 10 hopefuls battled it out on the bar in hopes of landing on the summer menu. Zoya, sister lounge to club Czar, 1430 E. Seventh Ave., serves shisha, elixirs and hand crafted shots and cocktails Wednesday through Saturday.…

Spanish renaissance at Vizcaya

Jon Palmer Claridge — Wed, 15 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Tasty tapas choices abound in Vizcaya’s beautifully renovated space. by Jon Palmer Claridge As you’re zooming north up Dale Mabry with tapas on your mind, keep your eyes peeled as you cross W. Busch Blvd. Soon, among the plethora of signs that overwhelm your gaze with business after business, you’ll see it looming on your right. Big red letters on a backlit white sign: V – I – Z –C – A – Y – A. But unless your eagle eyes are prepared beforehand, chances are you’ll miss the turn into the parking lot — because if you reach the sign, you’ve gone too far.…

Hold the chicken

Andy Stern — Wed, 15 May 2013 03:59:00 -0400

No birds will be harmed when making this excellent chicken(less) salad. by Andy Stern This recipe isn’t just about food; it’s also a trip back in time. I moved to Tampa as an economically challenged college student in 1992.…

A menu that puts the B in BBQ

Arielle Stevenson — Thu, 09 May 2013 04:03:00 -0400

Ribs, veggies, drinks and dessert make for the perfect summer cookout. by Arielle Stevenson And as I think back, makes me wonder how The smell from a grill could spark up nostalgia……

Tampa Bay Restaurant Week 2013

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

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Brews With Attitude 3

Thu, 09 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

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Know your ABC

Jon Palmer Claridge — Wed, 08 May 2013 12:00:00 -0400

Get authentic Chinese cuisine at St. Pete’s ABC Chinese Seafood. by Jon Palmer Claridge Americans obviously love food. But as a culture, we’re not quite as comfortable with embracing the source of the animal protein we consume as many other parts of the world are.…

Every day is sundae

Katie Machol — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:59:00 -0400

Taste the tropics in this piña colada-inspired dessert. by Katie Machol With warm, sweltering weather on our doorstep, I get a hankering for cool desserts like ice cream sundaes. My current muse for a sweet sundae recipe is the tropical piña colada drink, from which I borrowed the flavors of pineapple, coconut and rum.…

Piggy-free pork

Andy Stern — Wed, 08 May 2013 11:58:00 -0400

Did you know that jackfruit does a good impersonation of pulled pork? by Andy Stern Pull the wool over your meat-eating friends’ eyes by serving them these “Pulled Pork” Jackfruit sandwiches. They’ll be glad that you did because this delicious meal is nutritious, has a fraction of the calories, and no fat.…

Bring your own bottle

Arielle Stevenson — Wed, 08 May 2013 03:00:00 -0400

A guide to restaurants that allow you to skip the wine list and BYOB. by Arielle Stevenson Whether you’re a a cheapskate like me with an abundance of gifted vino, or a wine lover who’s been dying to try that one special place with that one very special bottle, here’s a list of places that accommodate those who bring their own wine. Some charge a small corkage fee; others charge a large corkage fee (probably because their wine lists are so good).…

Gary and Amy Moran leave Wimauma

Arielle Stevenson — Fri, 03 May 2013 15:21:00 -0400

"You can't have two different drivers driving the same bus," Moran said Friday. by Arielle Stevenson As of 5 p.m. Thursday, May 2, Chef Gary and wife Amy Moran are no longer the owners of the Wimauma Restaurant in Tampa or the Winthrop Barn Theater in Riverview.…

The Cindy

Arielle Stevenson — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:01:00 -0400

Veronica Danko, owner of the Seminole Heights Independent, expands to Clearwater. by Arielle Stevenson After her bittersweet parting from the original Independent in St. Pete (and from her former husband and co-owner), Veronica Danko is enjoying a Pinellas reunion of sorts at her newly opened Clearwater Independent Bar. “We call the Seminole Heights bar the Shindy,” Danko said.…

Cinco de Beergaritas

Katie Machol — Fri, 03 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Two twists on classic tipples to celebrate the fifth of May. by Katie Machol Due to the simple fact that we Americans have to make just about every holiday an excuse to drink, I’m sure that most of you are well aware that Cinco de Mayo is around the corner. That means parties, sombreros, and tequila drinks galore.…

Too darn hot

Jon Palmer Claridge — Thu, 02 May 2013 04:05:00 -0400

Heat and Southern fusion coalesce at Fire Bar and Grill. by Jon Palmer Claridge Stepping into Fire’s flaming orange building on the north side of W. Kennedy Blvd. is a bit like entering one of the outer rings of a mod Dante’s Inferno. Flames surround the 360-degree bar; on the streetfront patio the fire is in the form of tall gas heaters for those diners in search of more warmth.…

Cook like the Amish

Arielle Stevenson — Thu, 02 May 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Sarasota’s Pinecraft community didn’t have a collection of recipes — until now. by Arielle Stevenson “Life is short. Eat the pie.”…

The little chef

Arielle Stevenson — Thu, 02 May 2013 03:59:00 -0400

A St. Petersburg toddler with a knack for cooking. by Arielle Stevenson A little boy brandishing a spoon and stirring a bowl of blueberry muffin batter caught my eye a few weeks back on Facebook. His mom, Jessi Oppenheim, and I met on a sailing trip at USF St. Petersburg, where her husband Zac directs campus recreation.…

The 1300 block

Arielle Stevenson — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 03:58:00 -0400

A little plaza in Largo packed with ethnic edibles. by Arielle Stevenson Just down the road from the house in Largo where I grew up is a little strip mall that looks pretty standard to the naked eye. You’ve likely driven past it dozens of times and never noticed anything special.…

Bite me

Arielle Stevenson — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400

A few nuggets from the CL Festival Foodie Tour of Downtown St. Pete. by Arielle Stevenson The mission: Plan a food tour that is both walking-friendly and delicious. I could think of no place better than my own backyard, downtown St. Petersburg, for the inaugural tour.…

Seeing red

Jon Palmer Claridge — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Red wine grapes are all about location, location, location. by Jon Palmer Claridge If you’re taking the time to read about wine, I trust you saw the movie Sideways when it hit theaters in 2004; if not, it’s a must-see. Virginia Madsen’s monologue about the “life of wine” is not only poetic and educational; it’s completely enchanting.…

Wunderbar

Jon Palmer Claridge — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 04:00:00 -0400

Get a yodel-worthy meal at Largo’s German Bistro 2. by Jon Palmer Claridge When I first pull into the nondescript group of shops at 1300 East Bay Drive in Largo, I think perhaps that I’m being punked. As my eyes scan the signs looking for German Bistro 2 in the intimate plaza, I encounter a Thai restaurant, a Polish deli, a Cuban cafe and a Latin American bodega.…