The Refinery

"It's a little hot out on this patio... and where's that escargot we ordered?"   #firstworldproblems

  I had the pleasure of visiting the Refinery, winner of The James Beard Award, last week.  On a Tuesday night at 5:30 (a dead time for most restaurants), The Refinery was nearly full.  The Refinery's concept is simple.  Good, local food for a decent price.  Their website reads 

 "The concept that good food, prepared by professionals who are passionate about their craft, who spend their off time learning new techniques, who get giddy during morel season, should be made available to everyone. Whether you are thumbing through the last of your paycheck or whether you're sitting on a million dollars, good food is a necessity, not a right, and it is The Refinery's mission to provide just that."

I really like the idea that good food should be accessible to everyone.  For less than 100 dollars,  my parents and I enjoyed

    escargot with wild mushrooms

 veal meatballs with housemade sauerkraut

pork shoulder with orzo and squash

wild snapper with potatoes and cucumber

and a delicious micro brew


Service was prompt and unpretentious.  In a place where they very well could be food snobs, the staff here is friendly and laid back.  This would be a good date spot, because the atmosphere is relaxed, the drinks are cheap, and the food is delicious and very share-able.



The Refinery is located at:

5137 N. Florida Ave. Tampa 33603

It's only about ten minutes away from USF campus.  Their menu changes once a week, so you know for sure everything is fresh.  Next time I'll be sure to save room for dessert!

An Open Letter to My Personal Trainer

 

   You're "up and at em'" at a quarter to six a.m, clipboard and stopwatch in hand.  You feign interest in my body mass index improvements, and act genuinely excited that I've dropped three pounds in five weeks.  You set up a meal plan for me that can be used for an entire month.  You even include a handy shopping list for me to use at the grocery store.  You share your "Redline" energy drink with me, and bear with me when I'm two weeks late with the money I owe you.  You fall over laughing as I lay down on the gym floor, rather than do my last set of pushups.  Yet you stay until I finish.  You see me at the bar, and snatch away my captain n' coke.  You replace it with a vodka and soda water.  You use the elliptical with me, even though it looks a little silly.  

You, my friend, are committed to me and my health.  That makes one of us.

   To my personal trainer, Joe, I owe a sincere apology.  I'm sorry for blowing all those squats and lunges we did with the 50 grams of glorious saturated fat found in some Ben n Jerry's. 

 At the time, the melty, carmel/chocolate/marshmallow concoction was just too much to resist.  Watching Mad Men re-runs while shoveling all those glorious calories into my mouth was so much more appealing at the time than a handful of sauteed spinach or thirty minutes on the stairclimber.

 So, Joe, for wasting your efforts, and falling victim to Ben n Jerrys, I am sorry.  I owe you several thousand push ups.

Soho Sushi South

My friend Emelia enjoying a pork dumpling

              Soho Sushi of South Tampa


  One of Tampa's best sushi spots, Soho Sushi is located on Kennedy Boulevard, near the Himes and Kennedy intersection.  Their rolls are always super fresh, and contain great quality seafood.  You can tell that Soho invests a lot of money in their ingredients.  No skimping here.  If you order the "lobster fresh roll" you get chunks of real lobster.  And when crab is an ingredient in a roll, don't even worry about getting "krab", the fake meat.  My friend Emelia and I stopped my Soho Sushi for lunch last week.  At about one pm, it wasn't crowded at all.  Service was quick, to the point, and friendly. 

description of one of Soho's most popular rolls

our rolls and pork dumplings

tuna and lettuce wrapped in rice paper
 (spicy tuna fresh roll)

tuna tar tar

  Unfortunately, it was a little too early for us to enjoy one of Soho's tasty looking alcoholic beverages, like their "Sake-tini" (sake infused martini), but we will definitely be back. 

Their hot food, like the pork dumplings, nearly out does the suhi !  Delicious home made wontons stuffed with pork, celery, onions, and spices were to die for.  The chicken fried rice was filled with tender chunks of perfectly grilled chicken, and crisp, fresh veggies.   I'd rank Soho Sushi among the top 3 best sushi places in town. 

Battle of the Vodkas

        Oh, vodka.  My favorite go-to liquor.  My love affair with vodka began when I heard that it contains way fewer calories than other popular liquors, such as bourbon or rum.  But I stuck with it because of its smooth taste that pretty much goes with anything.  It's the only liquor you can really eat at dinner without the taste clashing with, or overpowering your food. 

 

 My favorite vodka drink, is extremely simple.  Vodka on the rocks.  I like to enjoy the taste without any added mixers.  A squeeze of lemon and lime, or a splash of seltzer water on top is always good, as well.

   Vodka with muddled fresh fruit is always a winner, too.  I like strawberry martinis:  muddled fresh strawberries shaken with ice and vodka, then strained into a martini glass.  Rim the glass with sugar, and you have a sweet, yet low calorie, and vitamin c- filled cocktail.  Watermelon martinis are the perfect drink for sunbathing-  muddled watermon, fresh mint and/or basil, vodka and ice strained into a martini glass.  A very hydrating and refreshing cocktail.

strawberry martini with a colored sugar rim

the components of a watermelon martini

               

When you just aren't in the mood to do any calorie counting, and when you're in need of a hearty, delicious, keep you warm in the cold weather kind of drink- it's time for a white russian.  

The recipe is simple, and the results speak for themselves.

 But what brand of vodka should you use when trying out these 

awesome drinks?

This is definitely a hotly contested issue.  I was, for years a hard core Grey Goose lover.  

Not quite to this extent, ^^^  but I always argued that it was simply the smoothest brand out there.

     Not to mention, the Grey Goose flavored vodkas were some of the only flavored liquors on the market that avoided being thick, sugary, and syrupy.  Grey Goose flavored products offer subtle, tasty hints of the flavor.  They don't overwhelm you with way too much flavor.  My two favorites are the cherry noir, and the pear flavors.


      I also have always been a fan of Stolichnaya, or "Stoli" vodka.  Very smooth, extremely reasonable price.  And yes, I fell for the cool ad campaigns.

 Stoli is usually only considered a "call" drink at bars, which is a category just above "wells", which is "the cheap crap."  So, it's a good choice when you're out on the town.  A grey goose drink can cost anywhere from 8- 12 dollars, but a Stoli drink usually only runs from 5 to 8 dollars.  (And it's hard to distinguish any major difference, when the liquor is buried in strong mixers, such as sprite or cranberry juice.)

I did some experimenting with one of the most expensive vodkas on the market-  Ciroc (P. Diddy's brand of vokda which is unimpressive and grossly overpriced.)  

It's kind of funny that Ciroc brags about using "french grapes" to make their product.  Guess what, guys ?  There's a reason companies have been using grain or potatoes to create vodka- grapes don't produce very tasty vodka.  Plus, using grapes can make for a wicked hangover.  Too sweet.  Next!

My favorite vodka today is so smooth then when my bartender friend Mark served it to me on the rocks, I accused him of teasing me and serving me a water.  It's not too expensive; it costs about the same as Grey Goose, around 25 dollars for a 750 ml bottle.

Perfect taste.  If Goose and Stoli were tasty hamburgers, then Ketel is a juicy filet.  Super smooth. This Dutch vodka, still owned ten generations later by the Nolet family of Dutch distillers, does not disappoint.  Clean, refreshing taste.

So tasty it is almost a shame to add mixers.

Well, don't take my word for it.  Every vodka brings something to the table.  Even a warm handle of Popov or Mr. Boston, for example could be perfect for, let's say a group of twenty college freshman on a camp-out.  There's no need to get to snobby when it comes to drinking.  Whether you're preparing a killer white russian, a crisp watermelon and mint martini, or sitting down to do some blogging with a Ketel on the rocks ;) , happy drinking !

Just be careful..

 

Renzo's Argentine Steakhouse and Market

      Renzo's
      The Steakhouse even a vegetarian could love !
        Located in South Tampa 
           3644 W Kennedy Boulevard  Tampa, FL 33609 (Between Himes Ave and Dale Mabry Hwy)

 

 

 

churrasco de entrana (grilled skirt steak) with sauteed spinach and yucca

     Renzo's is located in an unassuming plaza, and is very much a "no frills" dining destination.  Very simple, cafeteria style set up.  Walls were bare except for photos of Argentina, which is where the owners are from.  Renzo's specialty is slow cooked meat dishes.  Skirt steak, flank steak, new york strip, sirloin steak, chicken, sausage, etc.  They have it all, and it is slow cooked, using traditional Argentinian techniques.

       There are a ton of red wines to choose from, all of which pair beautifully with Renzo's steaks. 

 We chose The Don David Malbec for its bold,well balanced, soft and sweet flavor.  Our server described the wine as having notes of tobacco, vanilla, and plum.  My palate is certainly not trained enough to pick up on all that, but the wine went very well with my skirt steak.  (All steaks are cooked to medium well here, unless you specify that you'd prefer something different.)  Our steak was served with a delicious green chimichurri sauce.  (The sauce contains olive oil, parsley, garlic, lemon, and cilantro and was the perfect compliment to our well cooked, juicy steaks.)

 Now on to the sides.  I have never been to a steakhouse where the side items even came close to measuring up to the entrees.  Well, at Renzo's they did.  Tradition argentinian yucca was sauteed, and served with olive oil, salt, and chimichurri sauce.  Perfect texture.  Not chewy at all.  Almost the consistency of a potato.  Packed with flavor.  The sauteed spinach was out of this world.  Not overcooked, or weighed down by excessive olive oil.  The spinach was extremely fresh, and sauteed with garlic and other spices.  Went perfectly with the steak.

   After a half of a bottle of wine, and a ten ounce steak I was pretty stuffed.  But I had been told not the miss out on the Postre Chaja for dessert.

This homemade Argentinian specialty put even the Bern's Steakhouse dessert room to shame.  The multi-layered cake contains caramel, fresh peaches, vanilla icing, walnuts, chantilly cream, and meringue.  Unbelievable, and the perfect way to end an outstanding meal.


   If you have an appetite, and are in the mood for a "no frills", fresh, and mouthwatering dining experience, I'd highly recommend Renzo's.

Ybor's Got Sole

      

          It was a Friday night on Ybor City’s famed 7^th Avenue, and I could barely set one foot in front of the other without stomping on the back of a club goer’s stiletto heels.  Crowds decked out in barely there spandex dresses and diamond encrusted Ed Hardy t shirts poured into clubs like Prana and Empire.  Semi bored, semi drunk twenty-somethings lit up Parliaments, and shuffled slowly in a huge line nearly at a standstill outside of Club Honeypot.   I could almost smell the cheap liquor and Axe body spray in the air.  A group of drunken sorority girls decked in matching “finally 21!” shirts cackled as they entered Habib Hookah lounge.  Smoke and incense poured into the air.  My friend Drew and I were en route to Coyote Ugly, a bar known for cheap shots and dancing girls. Always a good place to start the night.  We held hands as we maneuvered through the crowd.  

      I spotted a young man, probably around 25 years old and dressed in a concert t shirt and jeans headed toward us. I couldn’t tell from what direction he had come; all I noticed was the huge smile on his face.  He greeted us like he was greeting old friends he hadn’t seen in years.  “Guys! How’s your night goin ?!,” he exclaimed.  Drew and I were both polite, yet confused as to how we knew the guy.  

      

       The unnamed man glanced up and down Drew’s body stopping at his feet.  I laughed at the nervous look on my friend’s face, not familiar with being ogled.  “Hey man,” said the stranger, “what kinda shoes are those? They’re nice.”   Drew, confused even further because he was simply wearing old sneakers replied, “um, just Nikes.”    Quicker than I’d ever seen anyone move before, the man dropped to his knees, balanced his weight on his palms, and lifted one of Drew’s Nikes.  The man stuck his tongue out, and slowly, almost sensually licked the entire length of the bottom of the shoe as if it were an ice cream cone on a sweltering summer day.  Never before had I seen a 250 pound man look as terrified as my friend did.  Shocked, I looked down at the strange man’s glistening, spit smeared smile.  He looked satisfied, but seemed to be debating going for seconds on that Nike, but instead bolted up, and speed walked away from us, off to shock some more Ybor City patrons.  My friend had been yet another victim of The Tampa Bay Shoe Licker.

 

       Little is known of The Tampa Bay Shoe Licker.  He operates a facebook page, and goes by "Jamie."  There's a very good chance that he lives in Ybor City, because I've seen him there nearly every time I've visited Ybor.  When I ran into Jamie at Gaspar's Grotto recently, he explained that he enjoys licking men's shoes because "it's a submissive thing."  My friends and I argued over whether or not it's okay to enable Jamie by laughing and being a part of his shoe fetish.  Some said it was simply funny, and there was no reason to feel guilty because Jamie was enjoying himself.  Others felt unsure of supporting an unhealthy habit that possibly came about due to some form of mental illness.  Jamie is a tough guy to figure out, and his fetish is a very tough thing to comprehend.  But one thing's for sure .  He will make your trip to Ybor City impossible to forget.

    

Charley's Steakhouse of Tampa

  

    

                                    Charley's Steakhouse

                                      Fine Dining at its Best

    

             Charley's Steakhouse has several locations all over Florida, but it couldn't feel less like a chain.  Charley's has the feel of a very traditional, almost old fashioned steakhouse.  Inside it's dark and cozy, complete with a fire pit where Charley's steaks are  flame-grilled using 1200-degree temperatures over a combination of oak & Florida citrus wood.  Tables are lit by candle light, and large fish tanks give the bar area some flair.  Walls are covered in bottles of wine, and vintage bottles of scotch and whiskey, the perfect after dinner drink.

Charley's "fire pit"

         My date and I were at first overwhelmed by Charley's huge wine menu (at least 20 pages long), but David, our server, was extremely well trained and was able to answer, and elaborate on every question we had.  After we listed qualities we like in a wine (red, full bodied, non acidic, etc.) David brought us several wine samples to help us decide which bottle to go with.  Servers at Charley's bring around a large tray filled with different cuts of steak, similar to desert trays that other restaurants use, to help you choose a steak.  For the vegetarian diner, or non steak lover, there are a ton of seafood options, including fresh fish and jumbo lump crab cakes, lobster pasta, etc.

                                    

                  Based largely on David's advice that this was the best steak he had ever had, my date and I decided to share the 20 ounce Kobe Ribeye.  Kobe beef comes from Hyogo Prefecture, Japan where cows are grass fed and humanely treated, according to strict Japanese tradition. The type of meat is a delicacy renowned for its flavor, tenderness, and fatty, well-marbled texture.  We ordered a lobster tail on the side.  (At Charley's you can add a large lobster tail to any entree for 15 dollars.)

the massacre

steak + lobster butter =  500 calories of heaven

                 Our steak came out cooked to a perfect "medium" temperature just like we'd asked.  The meat literally melted in your mouth.  I almost could have cut mine with a fork.  Absolutely delicious.  David had not led us wrong.  The only downside to the meal was the price.  The steak alone was 40 dollars, which is the main reason why we had chosen to share out entree.  (Although we weren't exactly slumming it, as we each got to enjoy 10 ounces of beef.)  Charley's is definitely a place for special occasions such as holidays or birthdays.  Depending on your budget, it's a great date restaurant (traditional romantic candle lit dining, huge drink list, etc.) 

 

         After we had polished off our bottle of Cabernet, as well as our steak, lobster, twice baked potato, and asparagus, there was simply no room left for the chocolate souffle I had been eyeing on the desert menu.  (#first world problems.)   We left completely satisfied, and with some leftovers that proved to be just as delicious two days later.  The only downside to Charley's Steakhouse was the high prices.  So if you come prepared to spend some big bucks, your experience will definitely be worth it !  They say you get what you pay for, and what we got was a meal fit for a king.