727 Food Now

I am very excited to share with you a service I am sure I will be using a lot! FoodNow is a new local food delivery service - delivering your favorite restaurant meals straight to your front door.

There are currently 13 restaurants that can be delivered to my zip code including Grattzi, Bowled, and Fred Fleming's. I have heard that Casita Taqueria will be added soon. The order process is simple - visit their website, place your order, and answer the door when the delivery driver shows up. The only extra fee you will pay is a convenience fee, ranging from $3.99 to $7.99. The restaurants have minimum delivery orders as well.

I am looking forward to placing an order with FoodNow this week!

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TacoSon Mexican Grill - St. Pete location

Welcome to St. Pete, TacoSon!

TacoSon Mexican Grill has been open in Tampa for over a year. Today (December 4^th) is the grand opening of their St. Petersburg location. TacoSon St. Pete is located in the former home of Panchero’s Mexican Grill on 22^nd Avenue North. Since this is so close to home, I had high hopes of good Mexican food to make up for the waste of space that was Panchero’s.

I decided to take a chance and see how TacoSon was doing on their first day of St. Pete business. The grand opening special, tacos for 99 cents, drew me in. How could I pass that up? In addition, it would help me figure out how much potential the place has. If they can’t make a good taco, how good can they really be? I ordered 5 soft tacos on flour tortillas: 2 Pollo (chicken), 2 Carne Asada (steak), and 1 Cochinita Pibil (shredded pork). I also ordered a small Chips and Guacamole for $1.50 and a medium fountain soda ($1.89). Grand total was $9.92 after tax and tip. Not bad for lunch for 2 people.

Sauces on the table - chimichurri and TBD?

The order is placed with the cashier, and the food is brought to your table once it is prepared. I waited less than 5 minutes for my to go order to be ready. Driving to TacoSon, placing my order, and driving home took less than 15 minutes round trip.

5 soft tacos topped with cilantro, tomato, and onions

The tacos are served with shredded cabbage, onions, cilantro, and tomatoes. Soft tacos normally run $1.99. Cheese is an additional 25 cents per taco and sour cream is 30 cents (dislike!). Hard tacos include cheese and sour cream for $1.99. The Carne Asada was very salty to me, and very fatty. The chicken was well marinated, and the pork was tender and moist. The guacamole was smooth and pale. I wondered if it is mixed with sour cream? It was nowhere near as good as Chipotle’s guacamole, but for $1.50 the price is right. The guacamole was filled with cilantro, onions, and tomatoes. A large Chips and Guacamole is $4.50. Also available are Chips and Salsa ($1.25 small, $2.25 large) and Queso and Chips ($1.75 small, $4.50 large).

I will definitely pay TacoSon another visit in a few weeks. In addition to tacos, they have other Mexican classics (burritos, tortas, tostadas, flautas, chimichangas, nachos, and ceviche). They also serve breakfast: scrambled eggs, tomatoes, onions, cheese, your choice of meat (chorizo, ham, turkey ham) in a burrito, taco, totra, or plato. TacoSon runs daily specials, which are $5.75 for lunch and $6.75 for dinner.

www.tacosonmexicangrill.com

2510 22^nd Avenue North

St. Petersburg, FL 33713

727-851-9800

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Other notable dining experiences

Below are some notable dining experiences I have had over the past few months:

Roy's Restaurant
"Hawaiian fusion cuisine"
Tampa, FL
Crispy pork belly, trout, hot chocolate souffle

Stonewood Grill and Tavern
"Oak grilled steaks and fresh seafood"
Brandon, FL
Steak and bleu cheese flatbread, filet and portobello ravioli, coconut cake

Conch Republic 
"Grill and raw bar"
North Redington Beach, FL
Calamari, potato skins, tilapia, fish tacos, seafood pasta

Cafe Alma
"Tapas, wine bar, grill"
St. Petersburg, FL
Crab stuffed mushrooms, wild mushroom ravioli

Sorry, no pictures right now... but that gives me an excuse to go back.

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Update on my Bucket List of Tampa Bay restaurants

I have been doing plenty of restaurant exploration,  I just have not had time to update my blog. My goal for 2012 is to take far better care of my sweet blog. Pun intended :)
Below is an updated list of restaurants in Tampa Bay that I want to try. I have bolded the items I have completed so far.

400 Beach Seafood Tap House
Burrito Boarder
Cafe Alma - Completed!
Carmelita's Mexican
Capital Grill
Cassis American Brasserie - Completed (drinks and dessert only)
Ceviche
The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge - Completed
J Alexander's
The Lobster Pot
Parkshore Grill
Red Mesa Cantina - Completed
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Square One Burgers
Wright's Gourmet House

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Carrabba's - New Cucina Casuale menu

I love Carrabba’s! Not just because that’s where me and my boyfriend went on our first real date, and not just because it’s fresh Italian cuisine just 5 minutes from home. I love Carrabba’s for being good to their customers, for not being the McDonalds of Italian food (ahem, Olive Garden), and for being absolutely delicious!

I am a member of the Amici Club at Carrabba’s. If you are not yet a member of this fabulous club, what are you waiting for?? Last July, I was invited to a dinner and wine pairing event, hosted by Fabio Viviani of Top Chef. Imagine my shock when I saw an invitation to an event featuring one of my favorite Top Chef (Top Scallop) contestants of all time! The meal, the wine, and the company were amazing. It’s been a while since I’ve been able to attend an Amici Club event, so I was pleasantly surprised to open my e-mail and find out about a tasting for the new Cucina Casuale menu.

What a welcome! 

This was a lunch event at my local Carrabba’s. The restaurant was open only to guests of the Amici Club. I attended the event solo but enjoyed the good company at my table. My tablemates enjoyed complimentary sangria while I had a classic Coca Cola. We were served the classic Carrabba’s fresh baked bread with olive oil and herb dipping sauce. Delicious as always! And if the bread isn’t reason enough to go to Carrabba’s, I am not sure what else is! (Except maybe dessert… stay tuned.)

Our tasting started off with Ribs Agrodolce. These are not your traditional BBQ ribs! The baby back ribs are braised in a herb and red wine sauce, and then cooked on a wood fire grill with a sweet and sour glaze. These were great, a little sweet but savory. The ribs were served with housemade potato chips. I believe our server said these could be ordered as an appetizer or a full entrée.

Next we tried the 2 new ciabatta sandwiches. First was the Grilled Fish Ciabatta sandwich, featuring wood fire grilled tilapia with baby arugula and tomato basil vinaigrette. The flavor of the fish was excellent. I am a big arugula fan, and a big fish fan, so this obviously won me over. Next was the Chicken Parmesean Ciabatta. Classic Chicken Parm served on Ciabatta bread. These sandwiches were served with wood fire grilled vegetables, but come with housemade potato chips usually.

Grilled Tiliapia Ciabatta (left) & Chicken Parm Ciabatta

Finally, it was time for dessert. My absolutely favorite part of any meal! There are no desserts specific to the Cucina Casuale menu, which is fine with me, because the traditional Carrabba’s desserts are amazing! We had a choice of dessert shooters: Tiramisu, Dessert Rosa, and Chocolate Coconut Mousse. How can they force a girl to decide? After much internal deliberation, I chose the Dessert Rosa. On the regular menu these mini (guilt free) desserts are just $2.25 each or 6 for $12.

The next time you are in the mood for fresh Italian food, stop by your neighborhood Carrabba’s. And while you’re online, visit their website to sign up for The Amici Club. I just might see you at the next club event!

Check out Carrabba's for the fabulous specials!

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The places I want to go

So many great restaurants in Tampa Bay, so little time! Here is my "bucket list" of restaurants I want to try in the Tampa Bay area.

400 Beach Seafood Tap House
Burrito Boarder
Cafe Alma
Carmelita's Mexican
Capital Grill
Cassis American Brasserie
Chateau France
Ceviche
Gigi's
The Hangar Restaurant and Flight Lounge
J Alexander's
The Lobster Pot
Maggiano's
Munch's Sundries and Restaurant
Parkshore Grill
Red Mesa Cantina
Ruth's Chris Steak House
Square One Burgers
St. Pete Brasserie
The Wine Cellar
Wright's Gourmet House

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The Refinery

I recently went to The Refinery in Tampa. I had never heard of it before, but was pleasantly surprised! At 9pm on a Friday, the place was packed. It's a small 2 story place, with a dining room downstairs and rooftop seating available (first come, first serve). The menu changes weekly, on Thursdays and consists of "small plates" and "more than a small plate." In addition, there is "Craig's List" for the less adventurous, which features a burger and hangar steak. There are 2 desserts also. I am not a beer drinker, but they had a very large selection of beer and wine available. In regards to their new American cuisine, they say it best themselves: Our menus change every Thursday night and are composed of what is fresh and beautiful now. We buy as much as we can from local farmers and when we cannot, we buy from people who do it right, ethically and sustainable right. All items are made in house, from the sausage to the salad dressings…as it should be.




We dined on the wedgeless salad, crispy pork belly, cherry bombs, roasted chicken, and hangar steak. There were a few additional small plates passed around, but unfortunately I was slacking and did not take any pictures or write down the names. Our server was friendly and did his best to accomodate our group of 9.


Overall, I look forward to going back to The Refinery soon! The ingredients are fresh, the menu is creative, and the flavors are dynamite. And I promise, next time there will be pictures!


PS: I was thrilled to find out after further research that The Refinery was a semifinalist for a James Beard Award for Best New Restaurant. Bravo!!

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Bern's Steak House

Bern Laxer traveled the world collecting art and wine. He left behind a legacy of perfection for us to enjoy – the best steaks, the best wine, and the best restaurant in Tampa Bay. I love learning about Bern’s Steak House (I even read a book about it) and I love eating there even more.

Bern's is filled with beautiful artwork from around the world

The location of Bern’s was once a mall. Each of the themed dining rooms was once a store in the mall. As the stores closed up, Bern bought the space and added to what we now know as the restaurant. Artwork lines the tall walls of the lobby, and the whole restaurant has an old French feel to it with deep reds and golds. I once asked if they do tours for all of the art in the building, but was sadly told that they do not. If they do start offering this, I would love to learn about where (and how) Bern gathered such great art!

A glimpse of the lobby - adorned with portraits and  chandeliers

Servers at Bern’s must go through extensive training before they ever make it on to the floor solo. Ask your waiter how long he or she has worked at Bern’s and you’ll find out some have been there as long as 20 years. A 12% service fee is automatically added on to your bill at the end of the evening, as the wage for your server. Even while waiting in the lounge area, you will find an attentive member of the wait staff ready to assist at any moment.

Porterhouse - Cut and cooked to order

8oz Filet with crispy fried onions and seasonal vegetables

Steak is the masterpiece at Bern’s. Any and every size of steak you could want is available, as you can see in your thorough menu. I order the 8oz Filet mignon medium, which is so tender it tastes like butter. Unlike your typical chain steakhouse, your side items are not served a la carte. A steak at Bern’s includes: soup, house salad, baked potato prepared tableside, crispy fried onions, and seasonal vegetables.

Delicious French Onion Soup au Gratin

French onion soup au gratin is the default soup with your meal, but Maine Lobster Bisque and Vichyssoise are available for an additional charge. The lobster bisque is good, but of course very rich and heavy. The French onion soup is topped with a thick layer of broiled cheese. I’ve never been a fan of onions, but between the French onion soup and fried onions, Bern’s makes me a believer. The soup is served with garlic and spelt toasts.

Server preparing the table-side Caesar salad

Completed Caesar salad

House salad with Thousand Island dressing

My absolute favorite part of the meal (if one can choose such a thing at Bern’s) is the house salad. The house salad features a homemade dressing (thousand island for me) and different types of organically grown vegetables, including: avocado, onion, red pepper, carrots, spouts, and black olives. I wish there was a way I could eat one of their salads every day. Alternatively, you can order a Caesar salad prepared tableside for $10.95. This process takes at least 10 minutes, but it is worth it to have a real traditional Caesar salad, instead of the pre-packaged kind you find at airports.

Baked potato with butter, sour cream, chives, and bacon

Your baked potato is also prepared tableside. You can choose from any combination of butter, sour cream, chives, and bacon for your potato. I go with ‘all of the above’ for a delicious side. You’ve all had a steak before, but unless you’ve had one of Bern’s aged steaks, you are missing out.

One of the many dining rooms at Bern's

After dinner, be sure to take the wine cellar and kitchen tour. I’ve taken it twice now, and have learned a lot both times. It’s truly amazing to think that Bern’s has over 1 million bottles of wine in their inventory – including a double magnum of 1947 Chateau Latour valued at $30,000. Most recently, we learned that Bern’s makes all of their own steel and paper products.

Love wine? Bern's has got a bottle just for you.

I could go on all day about my love of Bern’s Steak House. It is truly the best steak (and restaurant) in Tampa Bay – possibly even in the state of Florida. It is often rated one of the top steakhouses in the country. There is no doubt that Bern’s son, David Laxer, is doing an excellent job at running the restaurant and keeping the legacy running. I’m sure that Bern is very proud!

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Taco Bus at St. Pete

I finally made it down to the Taco Bus today! Located on Central Avenue, you will know you’ve arrived when you see the big line of people in front of the big yellow bus. Yes, it truly is a bus where your food is prepared. A waitress comes around to each person in line to take your order. She hands you a copy of the written order and you give it to the cashier once you finally make it to the front of the line. Your food is then made to order. Servers bring your food to you. Both inside and outside seating are available, as well as take out.

I ordered the Meal Deal: 2 tacos with rice and beans for $8.00. ($7.50 for lunch, $8.00 dinner or all day Saturday and Sunday.) I asked for one pollo and one fish, but unfortunately they were out of fish. We also ordered a carne asada burrito ($5.99). Both come with tomatoes, red onions, cilantro, and shredded cabbage. The burrito comes with cheese, but it costs $0.30 to add cheese to a taco.

Meal Deal with 2 tacos, rice, and beans $8.00

The tacos were great, but next time I will get flour tortillas instead of soft corn. The burrito was filled to maximum capacity with equal parts meat and veggies. The refried beans were the best I’ve ever had. Smooth and flavorful with cheese on top. I ordered a side of crema (sour cream) for $0.30. It was served in a Daisy packet which was a little disappointing. The only thing that would make the food better would be if the sour cream was added directly to the burrito before it was rolled, so it could mix with the other flavors.

My only other complaint was that the drinks (Pepsi products) are served in 20 ounce bottles instead of fountain drinks. Nothing is better with Mexican food than a delicious fountain soda! Except maybe a margarita, which were available for $4.00 from the small bar on the side. Dos Equis was available on draft, and a few other beers in bottles.

View from our seats

I look forward to going back to Taco Bus. Next time, I want to try the Fish Taco from Guaymas (fish fried in beer batter with white cream sauce and Chile de Arbol sauce on the side) and the guacamole.

The Taco Bus is quickly becoming a St. Petersburg legend. It’s worth all of the hype, and the long wait in line. Just grab a beer from the side bar before you wait in line and enjoy the great music playing from the bus. Before you know it, you’ll be sitting down and enjoying some delicious Mexican cuisine!

The full menu is available on Taco Bus' website: www.tampatacobus.com

2324 Central Avenue, St. Petersburg, FL 33712

727-322-5000

11am-9pm daily

Check out what others are saying about Taco Bus on Urbanspoon

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