Florida has a rich history that many visitors do not realize. Back at the turn of the 20th century, Ybor City was thriving with Cuban cigar factories. With all those factories, there was a need for restaurants to feed all those workers. The Columbia Restaurant was one of those places. It is officially known as the oldest restaurant in Florida, founded in 1905. They have a few locations around Florida now, but I was thrilled to be getting to go to the original location in Ybor City. The restaurant takes up an entire block (if not more). They also have…
Leave a CommentMonth: November 2018
Located in the building next door to Datz is a wonderful sweets shop called Dough. They are both owned by the same company. When I walked into this brightly colored and playful shop, I was greeted by the sweet smell of sugar. Their cases are loaded with homemade treats from donuts, cupcakes, and cookies. They have a machine on the counter where they will make 12 fresh mini donuts right in front of you. If you are not in the mood for donuts, then you can try one of their many homemade ice creams flavors. They are…
Leave a CommentThey say breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Having breakfast at Datz proves that statement to be absolutely true. Based on the crowd of customers that I saw, they all felt the same way. While looking over the menu of creative breakfast dishes, I ordered a Prickly Pear Mimosa. This was a unique take on a mimosa. They used mandarin-tangerine puree, prickly pear, and champagne. On top it is garnished with candied prickly pear. I enjoyed the sweetness of this mimosa. But be warned the candied prickly pear is extremely sweet. For breakfast I ordered the…
Leave a CommentI hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with the family and friends. Don’t eat too much! Enjoy! T
Leave a CommentI was meeting a friend of mine in New York for dinner and she made the recommendation to try Boat Basin Cafe. It is located near Riverside Park on the Upper West Side. It is not an easy place to get to if you are not familiar with the area. It is actually underneath the road on 79th Street. Once I found it I was impressed by its view of the Hudson River looking into New Jersey. An interesting fact about the Marina by the restaurant, it is where they shot some scenes from…
Leave a CommentSometime restaurants in NYC can be misleading in their size. I experienced this first hand. I walked into Croton for dinner and noticed that the restaurant itself was small inside (typical for a New York place). But to my surprise, they had a basement area which is where they offered their weekly happy hour. I had to go hang out at the basement bar. I ordered a red sangria since it was there on happy hour special (which is lucky for me since those are one of my favorites). There was a hint of spice to the…
Leave a CommentIf you are in the area of Madison Park in NYC and you are looking for a quick place to get lunch, check out Dos Caminos. They have a really fun look inside with colorful wall art; beautiful wooden chandeliers, plus a fully stocked bar for many cocktail options. The first thing I started with was the fresh made guacamole. This is one of the things Dos Caminos is known for. The fresh avocados are mashed in a molcajete (a mortar and pestle made of stone). Then fresh, chopped onions and fresh cilantro are…
Leave a CommentThank you to all the Men and Women who have served this country and all that we stand for. Your sacrifice will always be treasured.
Leave a CommentOnce again I found myself visiting New York City. What I love most about New York is the food scene. There are so many kinds of restaurants, from the hole in the wall neighborhood bars to high end, reservations required a year in advance, restaurants. There is something for everyone. Not far from my hotel was a cute bar/restaurant called Trademark. You are greeted by a doorway full of ivy. When you walk through the door there is a small bar and counter which I could only assume was for take out orders or quick bites. As I walked further…
Leave a CommentI love deli’s that offer a variety of soups and sandwiches. I have visited so many throughout all of my travels. I had never heard of TooJay’s before but a friend highly recommended them. Sure enough they had all the classics on the menu from potato knishes to pastrami sandwiches. I started with a cup of the homemade matzo ball soup. It was raining outside so I thought this would be perfect comfort food. The matzo ball was light and fluffy. It had herbs mixed throughout which is not normally something I see. It added an extra…
Leave a Comment