There is a restaurant in Treasure Island, Florida, not far from Tampa, that has been serving up Cuban sandwiches since 1993. They have won several awards including being voted “Best Cuban Sandwich in Tampa Bay”. At the suggestion of some great friends, we went to The Floridian to see what they were all about. It is a small place that has a few tables inside and a large patio so customers can eat outside. That is where we ended up sitting. Ordering is simple, just go up to the counter and tell them what you want. They make everything right…
Leave a CommentMonth: August 2017
Before spending the day at the beach it is important to start off with a good breakfast. Beverly’s has been serving up hearty breakfasts since 1989. It is a simple place that had people lined up outside waiting for a table, including myself. They serve all the classic diner dishes. I went for a simple breakfast, eggs, grits, bacon, and toast. I got my eggs scrambled and mixed in the crunchy bacon. The grits were ok but I needed to add butter to them to make them a little creamier and saltier. I did not get the homefries but I…
Leave a CommentI was recently in the Fultondale, Alabama area around lunchtime. There is this Mexican restaurant called Casa Fiesta that always has a line to get in. I decided to finally check them out. I was greeted as soon as I walked in. The staff was extremely friendly and very attentive. They had some unique décor around the restaurant, including a fish tank right at the front door. My favorite decoration was the Mayan calendar that was metal and made into a wall lamp. They had many great option to choose from on the menu. I wish I was there…
Leave a CommentThe Avondale area of Birmingham is booming. It is one of the hot spots every weekend. Fancy’s on 5th was the place to be on the evening I visited. They have called Avondale home for a year and a half. It is an amazing old building with brick walls and reclaimed wood everywhere. They have a beautiful reclaimed wood sign that bares their name on the wall. I noticed there were several octopus decorations around the restaurant, including the bathrooms. I asked my bartender Megan what that was all about. It turns out that the octopus is the mascot of…
Leave a CommentCraft breweries have been popping up in cities all over the United States. Birmingham, Alabama is no exception. This visit I headed to Cahaba Brewery. One of the main reasons I enjoy Cahaba is because they are always getting a variety of Birmingham food trucks. The night I was there Tropicaleo was there with Puerto Rican dishes. I have written about that experience in a previous post (check it out here). My favorite beer at Cahaba is the Kiwi Kolsch. It is one of their lighter beers that is not super hoppy. It has a faint sweetness. It paired perfectly…
Leave a CommentBirmingham has a robust craft brewery scene. These breweries always attract great food trucks on site so that customers can enjoy some unique dishes along with their beer. I was visiting Cahaba Brewery one evening and they were hosting Tropicaleo. They are actually a pop up restaurant that specializes in Puerto Rican cuisine. The smell from their grill was wonderful when I walked up. It was the first thing that greeted me as I walked up to the brewery. They had several dishes that they were serving up that were written on their chalkboard. They were also sampling their Toastones…
Leave a CommentTexas is famous for a few food specialties, Tex-Mex, BBQ, and steak. On a recent visit to the Dallas/Fort Worth area I was hungry for a steak dinner. I made a stop at The Keg in Irving for a bite to eat. The hostess staff was very welcoming when I walked through the door. The interior of the restaurant was warm and inviting. They have a beautiful stone fireplace that probably looks even better lite when it is not 100 degrees outside. The menu was filled with lots of options for starters and steaks. I started off with the…
Leave a CommentWith all the travel I do, sometimes I get a sweet tooth. While staying at the Aria Hotel and Casino I noticed they have a pastry shop called Jean Philippe Patisserie that is open 24/7. I decided to check them out on two different occasions. This shop is run by award winning executive chef Jean-Philippe Maury. Once I started walking around I realized they had more to offer than just French pastries. They have a large selection of chocolates, gelatos, crepes, and sandwiches. You can eat them there in the shop or get them to go. The first…
Leave a CommentThe origin of tapas comes from Spain. The idea of small bites or small plates of food was all created for a king that was sick and could not eat much food. Thanks to his unfortunate illness we can now find tapas restaurants all over the country. Tapas is always fun to enjoy with a group of people. It is a great opportunity to try different culinary creations. Award winning Chef Julian Serrano has a Spanish tapas restaurant inside the Aria Hotel and Casino. It is appropriately called Julian Serrano Tapas. The décor of the restaurant is beautiful. There are…
Leave a Comment