Tampa Bay Taste Bud Blog

New Tastes for DINE Tampa Bay

Wednesday, 16 May 2012 11:31

Good afternoon food lovers of Tampa Bay! Shannon here to share with you the latest on DINE Tampa Bay. The excitement is building over here at the Tampa Bay and Company offices as we get the ball rolling on Restaurant Week 2012. This year we are bringing you even more of the crème de la crème in Tampa cuisine. Trust me when I say I hit the jackpot of summer internships with this project. What a great way for Tampa bay foodies (and humans in general) to experience fine-dining with the security of a prix fixe menu!

So here’s the dish on a few of our new participants for 2012...

The Centre Club , a private business club for professionals, is opening their doors for DINE Tampa Bay to showcase their elegant in-house restaurant Bentley’s.  Their seasonal menu guarantees fresh and flavorful dishes. Complement your sumptuous special with a bottle of wine from their incredible daily selection.

In the mood for Italian? Bella’s Italian Café has been a south Tampa staple for 24 years and it’s no surprise why. They keep people coming back with their authentic brick oven pizzas and a wide range of fresh pasta. Enjoy a taste of Naples at Villaggio Ristorante in Lutz. Chef Giuseppe was born and raised in Northern Italy. Does it get any more authentic than that? Don’t forget room for Tiramisu! Mangia Mangia!

Foodies in St. Pete will love the food and atmosphere at Cassis American Brasserie- a French American fusion bistro with something for everyone. And holy location- this one is perfect! Their outdoor dining “promenade” overlooks the marina, evoking the essence of 1920s French Riveria. Mini-vacation anyone?

Check back here for more DINE Tampa Bay updates this summer. And don’t forget to like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Happy Eating!

Taste of Pinellas

Friday, 04 May 2012 15:24

Hey Tampa! Are you ready for the weekend?! Kristin Here to tell you a little bit about the Taste of Pinellas. Head out to Vinoy Park this weekend in St.Pete to check out the annual festival, with all proceeds going to All Children's Hospital. This is a great way to get the family out and be involved in the community. There will be over 40 local reataurants and eateries present, as well as big name music to check out.

On Friday May 4, Big & Rich will be playing as well as Joe Nicols with fireworks to follow Big & Rich. Saturday Sheryl Crow and Ziggy Marley will be taking the stage. Fireworks will shoot off after Cheryl Crow performs! Sunday May 6, All American Rejects and Dashboard Confessional will take over the park. Tickets are available on ticketmaster.com, by phone at 1-800-745-3000, or you can stop by the Mahattey Theatre Box Office.

As I mentioned earlier there will be over 40 different restaurants in attendace, everything from Tampa Bay Cupcake Company to BBQ! All tickets are 10 for 10 dollars! What a great deal to enjoy some of Tampa's best!  

Do something new this weekend and come check out The Taste of Pinellas!

Easter Brunches in Tampa Bay!

Thursday, 05 April 2012 00:00

Looking for somewhere to eat Easter Brunch? Be sure to check out some of our partners that are offering them. Be sure to call and make reservations beforehand. Visit their websites for more information!

Boizao Brazilian Steakhouse- $34.90 with a complimentary dessert per person from 12:00pm to 8:00pm!
Carmel Cafe & Wine Bar- from 11:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. at both locations
Pelagia Trattoria- Easter Buffet from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Jackson's Bistro- Brunch buffet from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Fleming's Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar- three-course menu from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. for $34.95
Ocean Prime- Brunch menu from 11 a.m. and on.
Parkshore Grill- Offering a special Easter menu for $50.
Roy's Restaurant- Offering a special Easter Brunch menu!

Click here to view other Easter Brunch Specials in Tampa Bay. Enjoy!

Make-A-Wish Foundation Night at Chili's

Monday, 14 November 2011 00:00

Happy Monday, Tampa Bay! Katy back and I want to tell you how you can dine out for a good cause this week.

On Tuesday, November 15 from 4 p.m. to 11 p.m., two Chili's locations in the Tampa Bay area will donate 10% of all sales to Make-A-Wish Foundation for each flyer presented.

The participating locations are:
You must have the flyer to participate so click here to print it out and be sure to take it with you on Tuesday. Enjoy!

Coming Soon: Lunch at Carmel Café & Wine Bar

Friday, 28 October 2011 09:57

Happy Friday! Katy here with some exciting news about one of Tampa’s newest restaurants. Carmel Café & Wine Bar in Carrollwood will start offering their popular Mod Med (modern Meditteranean) style cuisine for lunch starting November 1st.

Lunch will be served Tuesdays through Fridays from 11:30 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. The menu will include a variety of sandwiches, salads, flatbreads, soups, desserts and more with everything priced for less than $10...what a deal!

Love ordering off the iPads when you dine at Carmel Café & Wine Bar for dinner? Well, you are in luck because you will be able to order from them for lunch as well!

Carmel Café & Wine Bar is also open for dinner every night except for Mondays. If you have not yet had a chance to dine at Carmel Café & Wine Bar, I strongly recommend you give it a try!

For more information go to www.carmelcafe.com or call 813-265-1415.

Fall Prix Fixe Menu at Roy's

Tuesday, 11 October 2011 00:00

Bummed Dine Tampa Bay is over and your favorite restaurants are no longer offering prix fixe menus? Katy here with some good news about a local restaurant that is! Roy’s Hawaiian Fusion now has a Fall Prix Fixe Menu for just $35.95 per person..what a great deal! The Fall Prix Fixe Menu (below) was comprised as a culinary interpretation of the Season by their Chefs.

Appetizer (choice of one)
Crispy Potato Croquettes
Salted Cod, Chive, Smoked Paprika, Macadamia Nut Romesco
Fuji Apple Salad
Smoked Tamari Almonds, Madras Curry Purée, Tonic #3 Sherry Bourbon Vinaigrette
Yuzu Crab Stuffed Shrimp
Cilantro, Jalapeno, Shiso & Garlic Aioli

Entrée (choice of one)
Brown Butter Seared Salmon
Maple Cranberry Sausage & Warm Potato Salad, Stone Ground Mustard
Asian Style Coq au Vin
Sake Braised, Eringi Mushrooms, Bacon, Red Pearl Onions, Fingerling Potatoes, Lotus Root & Daikon
Cherry Stuffed Pork Tenderloin Roulade
Forbidden Black Rice, Pea Tendrils, Butternut Squash, Wasabi Demi Glace

Dessert (choice of one)
Harvest Spice Cake
White Chocolate Pumpkin Mousse, Cranberry Sauce
Roy's Melting Hot Chocolate Soufflé
Raspberry Coulis, Vanilla Bean Ice Cream

Make sure you dine out at Roy’s this Fall to try this delicious menu..Aloha!

SideBern's Cajun Style BBQ with Abita

Tuesday, 04 October 2011 00:00

Hi everyone!  As a part of their Grill & Chill Summer BBQ series, SideBern's will be having a Cajun Style BBQ with Abita tomorrow, October 6th at 6:30 pm.  The menu looks amazing and it is only $50 to attend!

Brewing in Abita Springs, Louisiana since 1986, Abita is locally owned and focuses on the use of natural ingredients in all their beers  and practices green brewing, right down to the packaging materials. Enjoy the tastes of Creole cooking while sipping a variety of brews; from the very approachable Golden to the hop forward Jockamo IPA.

Menu
Pulled Pork - tasso sauce
Grilled Catfish – remoulade sauce
New Orleans BBQ Shrimp
Red Beans & Rice
Stewed Okra –tomato, andouille sausage
Banana Fosters Bombe

Guests will be registered for the event via online purchase. No physical tickets are required or provided. Registration will be at SideBern's the day of the event . After 3 pm the day of the event, reservations will be available for purchase at the door ONLY. There will be no online sales after 3 pm on October 6, 2011.

Visit their website for more details!

Wine Tasting & Lunch Cruise

Sunday, 02 October 2011 00:00

Hey Dine Tampa Bay fans, I hope you all had a fabulous weekend! Katy here to tell you about PRP Wine International’s Wine Tasting & Lunch Cruise on Sunday, October 9th, 2011 at 12:00 in the afternoon. The lunch will take place aboard the Yacht StarShip. The cost of the Lunch Cruise will be $46.00 per person, all inclusive.

Includes the menu listed below, tax, tip, entertainment/DJ, 10 wines with your meal and a FREE $20.00 gift bottle of wine to take home with you!

Starter
House Salad

Entrée
Choice of Chicken, Vegetarian or Catch of the Day Entree
Served with Chef’s choice of  Side & Vegetables

Dessert
Chef’s specialty

Lunch served with freshly baked breads, iced tea & coffee

 

The cruise boards at noon, departs promptly at 12:30pm and returns at 2:30pm. If you are interested in this, please RSVP by TODAY , October 3rd, 2011 to Carol Prokap. Contact Carol by calling 239-410-8261 or by emailing her at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Credit card is required for RSVP and non-refundable. Limited to 150 people so make sure you RSVP now!

The Yacht Starship is docked at 603 Channelside Dr. Tampa, FL 33602 between the St. Pete Times Forum & the Florida Aquarium. Parking is available at the Tampa Port Authority Parking Garage for a fee of $5

Bluz and BBQ

Wednesday, 28 September 2011 00:00

Hey Dine Tampa Bay Fans! Katy here to inform you of a fun event coming up soon. The Davis Islands Chamber of Commerce is hosting the Second Annual Bluz & BBQ. It will be held on October 15th from 10 AM-10 PM at Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park.

There will be SIX different BBQ providers including Beachwood BBQ, Slice Pizza & BBQ, Smokin' Oaks, Big Papa's BBQ, Holy Hog BBQ, and the Press Box Sports Emporium. There will also be Blues Music being played throughout the day by multiple artists and bands.

The purpose of this event is to raise funds to reopen the historic Roy Jenkins Pool on David Islands that is currently closed due to safety, maintenance and/or repair needs.

VIP tickets are available for purchase online. Find out more about the event and purchase tickets by clicking here. Help Davis Islands get their pool back!

Ice Cream for a Cause

Tuesday, 27 September 2011 00:00

Hello again, Katy here to tell you how to get FREE ice cream for a good cause this evening.

Cold Stone Creamery® and the Make-A-Wish Foundation® are inviting the community to help make wishes come true by attending the 10th Annual World’s Largest Ice Social TONIGHT, September 27th from 5-8 p.m.

Enjoy a FREE 3-ounce portion of Sprinkled with Wishes™ containing Sweet Cream Ice Cream, moist Brownie, Rainbow Sprinkles and rich Fudge, to celebrate the event and as a precursor to the Make-A-Wish signature annual event, Night of the Iguana scheduled for September 30th.

Celebrating the 10th year of working together, Cold Stone Creamery locations host a month-long fundraising celebration to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Central and Northern Florida. Throughout September, every Cold Stone store sells paper wish stars for $1 each, leading up to the 10th Annual World’s Largest Free Ice Cream Social on September 27th.

Local wish child, Kate Rawley, whose wish to create her own custom Cold Stone flavor was granted last year, will be on-hand at the Cold Stone Creamery located on 3810 Neptune Avenue to scoop free ice cream from 5-8pm. Kate, an 11 year old from Tampa, Florida, suffers from a congenital spinal cord condition. Kate’s one true wish was to develop a Cold Stone Make-A-Wish® CreationTM. Kate and her family visited Cold Stone Headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, where she completed a day’s worth of training as Jr. Tastemaster. Her duties included developing and taste testing this year’s Make-A-Wish® CreationTM.

Show your support for the Make-A-Wish Foundation and make your way out to Cold Stone Creamery TONIGHT!