TaylorEason.com: Foodies unite » Restaurant reviews

Chocolate is love in an edible form: Nine of Tampa Bay’s best chocolate shops

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 16:18:04 +0000

Unabashedly rich and irresistible, few foods bring on such giddy cravings as chocolate. Love is sweet, but it’s much sweeter with chocolate. Its phenylethylamine is the same chemical that our brains produce when we fall in love. Quality chocolate stirs the same emotions and is positively addictive this close to Valentine’s Day in Tampa Bay. Charge up your appetite, and your wallet, with some luscious choices from candy land.

Tampa restaurant review: Un-ostentatious Osteria Natalina showcases seaside legacies

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 16:36:04 +0000

Osteria Natalina draws from its previous life as Spartaco to offer something new and something old. It’s set in the same location, a corner of a strip center in South Tampa. Its obscure location doesn’t keep it from being discovered -- it’s a well-traveled haunt. And its short, uncomplicated menu, with English subtitles, showcases owner Spartaco Giolito’s hometown, Rimini, on the Adriatic coast.

New Year’s Eve restaurant spots and events for Tampa Bay 2012

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 20:03:53 +0000

If old acquaintances are not to be forgotten, don’t choose a forgettable place to ring out the old year. Check out these ideas to ring in New Year’s Eve 2012 in Tampa Bay.

Any day is good at Tampa’s Sunday’s (Fine Dining)

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 18:45:51 +0000

You never know who will be in your eatery in Ybor City. Sunday’s Fine Dining owner is still clucking about the rooster that took up residence in his office for a few days. His management style wasn’t so bad but his keyboard skills were all hunt and peck. Dave Sunday, armed with a skill set culled from the army, the Long Island fishing community and a degree from culinary school in New York (NYIT), has gotten notice here. Once a chef in South Hampton, N.Y. during summers, he chose to winter here and cook at the Straz Center for the Arts. Even that wasn’t his idea of paradise.

Pop up KitchenBar4 emerges in Tampa’s Knife and Co. spot

Taylor Eason — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 17:59:26 +0000

Laura Reiley at the St. Pete Times revealed that Jeannie Pierola's fourth pop up restaurant concept will be making its appearance at the newly opened Knife & Co. spot on Kennedy (formerly Al Gusto Mexican). TaylorEason.com food writer Mary Scourtes reported on on Knife's woes in this post but who knew they'd close down for the month of December. But to make way for the empress of Tampa Bay food, it's all for a good food cause.

It’s great to celebrate your birthday with these Tampa Bay deals

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 30 Nov 2011 17:04:23 +0000

The appeal of TV serials like Cheers, Friends and Always Sunny in Philadelphia, is having a tight group of buddies who are willing to exalt in your victories, commiserate in your setbacks, and, of course give you a rousting birthday celebration every year. Lacking a favorite watering hole and posse of pals, where can you go to pick up a little cheer on your birthday? A few restaurateurs value your big day and offer you an entrée (you may need to register ahead). With the economy faltering, even a free dreamy dessert, works as a treat. Just remember to BYOL (bring your own license).

Restaurant review: Knife and Co. in Tampa still needs a little sharpening

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 16 Nov 2011 17:07:04 +0000

A wisecracking critic could have a field day mocking a restaurant during the first week during a dreadful economy. A writer with a chip on her shoulder could make mincemeat of a new enterprise that acknowledges her reservation but still doesn’t have a table available. Still, there is hope for Knife & Co. One of its defining features is the chef’s commitment to prepare almost everything in-house, from hot biscuits and grape jam to curing their bacon.

Where to get great deals on food in Tampa restaurants

Mary D. Scourtes — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 16:20:11 +0000

Stumbling upon a deal at a favorite restaurant makes dining sweeter. While Groupon, Eversave and other marketing companies offer deals, there are places that have secrets that insiders feed on. The key to savings is eating early, on slow days, or with other night owls. Check out these super savory savings.

Tampa’s Carmel Café brings California cool to Carrollwood

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 16:04:41 +0000

Starting with a cuisine that is steeped in tradition, Carmel Café & Wine Bar serves Greek, French and Italian fare. Carmel’s niche is Mod Med, or modern Mediterranean, and its name is inspired by an array of trendy restaurants dotting the northern California coast. With an iPad for just about every customer, I think this is a first in our area. This popular gizmo serves several functions, explains company president Terry Ryan, who likes the Apple technology. “It allows us to blend technology with hospitality, and gives a server more time at the table. You can also visualize what you’ll order, resulting in servers spending more time helping patrons, rather than taking orders,’’ he says. You pick a plate; press send and your order arrives lickety split. Those interactive tablets describe the menu, offer help for choosing wines, and show photographs to make the mouth water. We liked its featured wine pairings and wine tutorial. Small plates or large portions are available and you set the pace for arrival.

Tampa food scene news: Food truck frenzy, Epcot Food Festival, restaurant openings

Taylor Eason — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 16:28:40 +0000

Although I don't live there anymore, my heart still belongs to Tampa. And I follow the resto news pretty obsessively. A few tidbits you might have missed like the food truck frenzy, food swaps and restaurant openings and closures.

Top Ten Thai Restaurants to try in the Tampa Bay area

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 16:20:11 +0000

My love affair with Thai food started years ago. From the hottest bird’s eye peppers to a classic cucumber/jicama slaw, I’m in awe at the clever cleavers and hands that prepare simple-to-seriously-involved dishes. Chefs take advantage of their carving skills to make entrees more indulgent with crafty, carved pineapples, watermelons, apples and other profuse produce. Many country and cultures influence Thai cuisine, including a strong Indian presence. Traditional sweet ingredients (hoisin sauce), sour (tamarind), salty (oyster sauce), bitter (saw leaf herb) and hot (chili peppers) offer the right ying and yang. Best of all, everyone wins because it is conducive to poke around each others' entrees and share all. I offer up my top ten Thai in Tampa Bay.

Tampa food truck roundup: The diverse food keeps on truckin’

Mary D. Scourtes — Mon, 19 Sep 2011 16:26:15 +0000

The Good Humor men probably started the trend, but fast food addicts and kitchen sleuths are now finding diverse dishes from phenomenally popular food trucks. With a sour economy, more and more people look for sweetly affordable, convenient grub at a nearby lunch wagon, dinner cantina, or taco truck. The traveling meals-on-wheels are on college campuses, office complexes, weekend street markets and neighborhoods near you. It’s one of the hottest trends in the restaurant business, especially out West. But they've arrived in Tampa Bay.

Restaurant review: Tourist-happy Sculley’s in St. Petersburg

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:41:45 +0000

We dined inside in one of Sculley's ramshackle, nautical themed, but noisy dining rooms. Our sweet waitress was friendly enough but didn’t know her stuff. When I asked if the mashed potatoes were the real deal, she said they didn’t tell her such information. OMG. As our dinners ranged from OK to downright dreary, Sculley’s seems content to simply coast on a collective tourist base.

Tampa restaurant review: Renzo’s raises the steaks

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 16:16:12 +0000

Renzo Menzerotolo is from Venezuela, his dad is from Uruguay, and he lived in Argentina. He has bestowed his Latin accent on the Westshore business district with Renzo’s Gourmet Argentine Steakhouse. And he thinks everyone likes Argentinean beef. “We sell a ton of meats for the Spanish population, a ton of wine and lots of pastries,’’ says Renzo, who opened his eatery two years ago. It’s unpretentious, with an almost bare-bones cafeteria (by day), restaurant (at night), and a bakery, meat market and new a Vinotecca that holds 500 bottles of wine.

North Tampa’s Gino’s glories in generous portions

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 24 Aug 2011 16:37:18 +0000

Mary and Gino Galantino, whose family was from Bari by way of New York, opened Gino’s more than 30 years ago. They bought a little bar on North Armenia Avenue, added a kitchen and let their menu evolve with both Northern and Southern Italian dishes. Now owned by their son, Michael, the restaurant’s menu of parmigiana, pasta and piccata overflow the plates and the laughter drowns out the music.

Ya Mon: Tampa’s Jerk Hut takes taste buds to the Islands

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:33:31 +0000

No worries: There are no button-down attitudes at Jerk Hut Jamaican Grille & Rhum Bar. The lazy, hazy, island lifestyle beguiles your senses with lively, if loud, reggae, casual ambience and a peppery aroma. The hostess asked “take out?” as three of us walked in to dine there. Sure enough, a good number were huddled in the lobby, waiting on Caribbean carryout.

Tampa restaurant review: Downtown’s Bamboozle Cafe is on a roll

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 16:06:11 +0000

You know how your mother-- wink, wink -- used to hide your peas under your mashed potatoes? Well, restaurateur Lynn Pham delivers a similar deception at Bamboozle, beguiling diners with vegetables, lean meats and seafood served fast and fresh.

Eight of the best Tampa Bay food dishes that I crave from California

Taylor Eason — Tue, 09 Aug 2011 16:00:23 +0000

It's been five months since I moved to Santa Rosa, California from Tampa, Florida, and besides the friendships, a few dishes still gnaw at my memory like a half-starved mongrel. I spent 17 years collecting these faves and so wish they could be Fed-Ex'd on a weekly basis just to keep the love alive. My eight best dishes/experiences in Tampa Bay, in no particular order.

Tampa Thai Island is a tiny treasure

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 03 Aug 2011 16:26:52 +0000

Penn McElmurray skillfully weaves the sweet, sour, salty and spicy flavors of lemongrass, coconut milk and galangal root into fragrant salads, soups and stir fries. Penn, a native of Sukothai, and her husband Clay, a Davis Islands product, operate their 50-seat, Thai Island restaurant on East Davis Boulevard. If you drive by too fast, you can easily miss it. But its friendly staff and change-of-pace dishes compensate for its lack of visibility.

Mayuri’s Indian buffet is priced to please in Tampa’s Temple Terrace

Mary D. Scourtes — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 13:16:52 +0000

I’m in sweat pants today while last night's dining companions flaunt bikinis because I lose control at all-you-can-eat places. Make the menu Indian and I’m a sucker for mystic-sounding vadas, aloos and dosa dishes. I dreamed I was on a budget trip to the Indian subcontinent when visiting Mayuri Indian restaurant in Temple Terrace. The simple décor here has boring walls, Pizza-Hut like red chairs, bottles of beer and other booze with big price tags on each one, tables that need bussing, and a lot of noise. This could be Anywhere Cuisine.