It is National Pina Colada Day and I knew that Hula Bay Club in Tampa would be a great place to celebrate. Whether sitting inside or on the deck looking at the water, that fresh, Florida air is totally relaxing. And with a cold Pina Colada in my hand, I was in a happy place.
If you are in the area stop by Hula Bay for a drink and some of their great Hawaiian inspired dishes.
Check them out at:
Enjoy!
T
Bonefish Grill can be found in 30 states across the US. However, they got their roots in Florida when they opened their first location in St. Petersburg. I visited their location in Lakeland, Florida. It was a beautiful restaurant and was already loaded with patrons when we got there.
We were greeted right away by our server. Since I was there with several friends, we ordered some starters to share. We started with the calamari. The tender calamari were breaded and fried with peppers. The peppers added additional texture and flavor to the dish. They served a sweet and spicy Asian sauce on the side. It was like a Thai chili sauce. I loved how the tanginess paired perfectly with the calamari.
The Tempura Crunch Sashimi Tuna came out next. This was an awesome dish. I could have eaten all the tuna myself but I had to share with the table. The tuna was seared rare and sliced thin. They added a sashimi sauce and tempura crumbles. I liked the texture of the crumbles, and the sashimi sauce was creamy. There was a sriracha drizzle on the plate that added a little heat to the tuna when dipped in. There was wasabi and soy sauce on the side so that I could make the tuna a little spicier. If you like fresh, tender tuna, this is a dish for you.
Since there were several of us enjoying lunch, each of us ended up ordering something different. I was excited to get to try a bite of everything.
The dish I ordered for myself was the Mahi-Mahi. Mahi-Mahi is also known as Dorado. They cooked the fish on a wood fire grill. This added a nice smoky taste to the flakey, white fish. They put a fresh made mango salsa on top. The sweetness from the salsa accented the fish and gave it a real tropical taste. They served fresh broccoli and jasmine rice on the side. Each item on the plate was light so I did not feel like I ate too much. That is what I love about eating fresh fish that is not fried, it is filling but not heavy.
Another dish ordered was the Mahi-Mahi with Shrimp. The Mahi-Mahi was wood grilled like my fish. There was great seasoning on top that brought out the flavor of the fish. They also grilled the shrimp in a citrus herb marinade. Th citrus flavor paired well with the sweetness of the shrimp. To accompany the Mahi and shrimp was fresh grilled asparagus and garlic mashed potatoes. The potatoes were rally creamy and the garlic was a nice touch.
The Cod Imperial was an elegant, classic dish. The fresh cod was stuffed with a blend of seafood, mozzarella cheese and parmesan cheese. It was a nice blend of saltiness and creaminess. They topped the fish in a lemon-caper butter sauce. The butter sauce is what made this dish pop. It was creamy in texture but rich in flavor. That sauce was also great on the fresh broccoli.
On the lighter side was the Tuna Poke Bowl. The fresh tuna, chopped up into smaller pieces, were blended with red onions, peppers, cucumber slices, sesame seeds and cilantro. All the ingredients were then tossed in a Hawaiian poke sauce. Then it was placed on a bed of Jasmine rice. The rice helped soak up the extra poke sauce. The sauce was amazing and made this dish extremely flavorful. The cucumber added a great crunch that I liked.
For dessert we all shared the Molten Lava Cake that was topped with whipped cream. When we cut into the cake the creamy, warm center just poured out. The fluffy whipped cream melted as soon as the heat was released. This added a creamy sweetness to the cake. It was a rich dessert but perfect for sharing.
The lunch was amazing at Bonefish Grill. All the dishes I tired were fresh and amazing. The service was great too. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. Check out their different locations at www.bonefishgrill.com
Enjoy!
T
It’s National Martini Day so we headed over to Grill Smith in Lakeland, Florida. They offer a nice variety of martinis to choose from. We went for a traditional Dirty Martini with bleu cheese olives and a Cosmopolitan. Cheers!!!
Check them out at www.grillsmith.com/lakeland
Enjoy!
T
The celebrity chef Todd English has restaurants all over the country. Blue Zoo is one of those restaurants located inside the Dolphin Hotel at Walt Disney World. The restaurant is beautiful inside and a perfect place to go with a group of people.
They offer a wonderful menu of unique cocktails. I ordered the Smoking Sangria because the description alone made it sound so fascinating. The sangria itself was made with Riesling that was infused with fresh strawberries. Then peach liqueur and fresh lemon juice was added in. The liquid nitrogen was placed on top. When the drink came to the table it was indeed smoking. It was the coolest cocktail I have ever ordered. I was a little afraid to drink it at first, but I finally took a sip. The liquid nitrogen did not change the flavor of anything. It was just for the presentation. I did like how sweet the Riesling and strawberries were.
They brought out some fresh made bread to the table. There were sautéed, caramelized onions on top of the bread. They were not baked on; they were just placed on top. So, if you do not like onions, then you can pick them off and it will not affect the taste. But if you like onions, you will love how sweet and savory these onions are.
The Mighty Meat Flatbread is a great appetizer to share around the table. The thin crust was covered in pepperoni, house made Italian sausage, prosciutto cotto, and mozzarella cheese. The crust was crispy and the meats added a nice saltiness that was softened by the creaminess of the cheese.
The Shake and Bake Fries were another great starter to share. These crispy fries were covered with roasted garlic, rosemary, and grated parmesan cheese. The garlic and rosemary flavors paired perfectly together. It made these fries savory and really stepped them up a notch from a typical French fry. The parmesan cheese added a slight saltiness.
The Risotto Tots was an amazing appetizer that everyone at the table loved. I could have easily ordered this just for my meal because they were so delicious. These “tots” were risotto rice mixed with white truffles and cheese and formed into a ball shape. They were lightly breaded and fried to create a crispy outer coating. A creamy romesco sauce was served on the side. The truffles, with their earthy taste, accented the bold flavor of the garlic and cheese. There was no reason for me to dip these tots into the sauce because the flavor was impactful just by itself. However, I did try a little of the bold romesco sauce. It did add another layer of flavor. The risotto was tender and absorbed all the flavors from the other ingredients.
It was time for all of the dinners to start coming out. There were so many great options that everyone chose. One of the simplest dishes that was ordered was the Lobster Risotto. This was a beautifully grilled lobster tail and the creamy risotto. Normally they would have been on the same plate, but the person who ordered it did not want their food to touch. I really liked how beautifully these were prepared. I tired to risotto and it was even creamier than the risotto that came in the “tots”.
Another dish I got to try was the Seared Tuna. The tender, mouthwatering tuna was seared to perfection on the outside with a pink center. They placed the tuna on top of the creamy risotto and fresh broccoli and carrots. They served a white wine sauce in a little pot on the side. This was so you could drizzle some over the tuna and vegetables. The sauce made the tuna even more savory, where it just melted in your mouth.
For my dinner I got the Lobster Bucatini. They made homemade bucatini pasta and mixed it with chervil butter and Calabrian chili flakes. The fresh, tender lobster was tossed in and covered in the sauce. A dollop of fresh ricotta cheese was placed right in the middle. I spread it around to make the pasta even creamier. The lobster was extremely sweet. It was tender along with the tender pasta, this dish was easy to eat. It was the perfect portion size so that I did not get overly full. There is something very satisfying about homemade pasta.
It was time for dessert. I ordered their Strawberry Angel Food Cake because it was strawberry season. This dessert was presented uniquely on the plate. There was a fluffy cake in between layers of crispy tuile and some creamy vanilla ice cream. Tuile is a thin, crispy cookie. There were marinated strawberries on the side, along with a strawberry gelatin. The dessert felt like a deconstructed strawberry shortcake. It was sweet and delicious. It was a perfect dessert to share.
The food and the atmosphere were wonderful at Blue Zoo. It was a magical dining experience in a very magical place. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting the area.
Check out their website at: https://swandolphin.com/dining/todd-englishs-bluezoo/
Enjoy!
T
Enjoying National Shrimp Day at Texas Cattle Company. I ordered the Dang Bang Shrimp. This is crispy shrimp in a sweet and spicy cream sauce.
Check them out at www.texascattlecompany.net
Enjoy!
T
Florida has a lot of small towns that offer unique experiences. One of those towns is Webster, Florida. They have a large farmers market and a huge flea market. I have driven through Webster many times but never stopped because I was always driving somewhere else.
This time I decided to stop and check out a little, local shop called Dough J’s Chicken and Donuts.
They open really early in the morning, which means they sell out quickly on their donuts and pastries. By the time I got there, that is what happened. They only had a few donut choices left. So, for my next visit I need to get there sooner.
So, I decided to try some of their breakfast items. The Breakfast Bowl was the perfect layering of ingredients for easy eating. They started off with creamy grits that were topped with shredded cheese. Then they layered scrambled eggs and crumbled breakfast sausage. I loved all the layers because I could take one big spoonful and get every component. The grits were my favorite because they were so creamy. My next favorite part was the sausage. It had a great savory flavor.
I also tried the Chicken Biscuit. The biscuit was freshly made. It was flakey and had a great buttery taste. The fried chicken was juicy and crispy. It was a generous piece of chicken. It actually was hard to eat this chicken biscuit because it was too big to take a bite. Nonetheless I enjoyed it. The chicken biscuit also included a side of breakfast potatoes. These were perfect bite size pieces of potato that were fried up and seasoned. They were great with a little ketchup.
I am glad I finally stopped in Webster. Dough J’s was great for breakfast and I look forward to trying one of their donuts on the next visit.
Enjoy!
T
Inside the Marriott World Center in Orlando, Florida is an Italian restaurant called Siro. They call it Urban Italian because they take classic dishes and put an updated spin on it.
I was there for a large group dinner, so the restaurant put together a fixed menu for us to choose from. They did offer a good number of choices. There were a few appetizers that came out to all the tables.
The Charcuterie Board was well put together. The presentation was beautiful and made my mouth water. They offered three meats: salami, prosciutto, and soppressata. They offered three cheeses as well: brie, parmesan, and sharp cheddar. It was great to make different combinations of meat and cheese with either the stone ground mustard or berry jam. The am was my favorite because it paired perfectly with the salty meats and cheese. The jam and brie with the prosciutto was my absolute favorite combination because the brie added creaminess.
Another appetizer that came out was meatballs. These large, homemade meatballs were juicy and moist. They were covered with a fresh marinara sauce. The parmesan cheese sprinkled on top melted nicely. The meatballs were seasoned well. I would have enjoyed these as a meal with some pasta.
The calamari rings were an easy appetizer to pass around the table. They were lightly breaded and fried. They served the same freshly made marinara sauce on the side that came with the meatballs. The calamari pieces were extremely tender.
For my dinner I selected the Seared Scallops. These jumbo scallops came on top of a sweet corn risotto and pickled Fresno peppers. The scallops had a beautiful sear on the edges that created a slight crispiness. The scallops were tender and extremely sweet. The sweet corn risotto was a unique take on risotto. It did not have a strong corn taste – just a sweetness like creamed corn. The risotto was tender and cooked perfectly so it would not be mushy.
I also got to try the Seafood Pasta. They made fresh spaghetti, which helped make this dish special. They coated the spaghetti with a white wine cream sauce with lobster and shrimp. It was so creamy and rich. The lobster added a sweetness to the dish. It was crave worthy comfort food for sure.
For dessert, we were given a few options. I went for the Gelato. This was a homemade vanilla gelato. It was sweet and creamy. The fresh vanilla flavor made this dessert refreshing after such a rich dinner.
It was a great dinner at Siro to enjoy with a wonderful group of people. The meal was great and even with a pre-fixed menu the choices were excellent. I would go back again just to try their regular menu.
Check them out at the Marriott website at:
Enjoy!
T
The Terrace Hotel is a historic hotel in downtown Lakeland, Florida. Inside the hotel there is a restaurant that I visited many years ago. Since that visit, the restaurant and part of the hotel have been remodeled. I was able to check them out for Sunday brunch. The lobby is beautiful when you walk in. There is so much natural light. The restaurant as also beautiful. With the tall ceiling, the restaurant seems much larger than it is.
They did update their brunch menu and they now offer a bottomless Mimosa and Bloody Mary bar. It is a great setup; the waitress or waiter brings a carafe of either champagne or vodka. Then you get to make the drink to your liking.
For Bloody Mary’s, they offer a regular and spicy mix. There are the assorted vegetables that you can add to your cocktail.
I went for the Mimosas. They had several juices to choose from:
They had an assortment of fresh fruit to accent the cocktail. It was a nice setup. I had mostly pineapple mimosas but did try the blood orange for something different.
I ordered the Terrace Frittata. The egg was mixed with asparagus, red peppers, mushrooms, and gruyere cheese. The plate was garnished with an arugula salad and a crème Fraiche. The frittata was fluffy. The vegetables they included gave the egg a nice earthy taste. The asparagus had a little crunch. The gruyere cheese melted nicely throughout the frittata. It was creamy with a combination of sweet and salty. The arugula salad was a great, fresh element to the plate. The peppery taste of the arugula complemented the sweetness from the crème Fraiche that was drizzled on top.
I came to brunch with family so there was a variety of dishes ordered. I did not try these dishes, but I did make sure to take pictures and ask everyone how they liked what they ordered.
The first dish I wanted to talk about was the Lake Mirror Benny. This is their take on the classic brunch dish, eggs benedict. Their twist on this was using a toasted brioche bun rather than an English muffin. The brioche bun added sweetness to each bite. They used applewood smoked bacon that was cooked perfectly to have a crispness. They placed the perfectly poached egg on top with a creamy hollandaise sauce. The hollandaise sauce has a decadent creamy flavor.
The Open Face Sammy was a unique breakfast sandwich. They started with a base of toasted sourdough bread. They layered prosciutto, gruyere cheese, arugula, and béchamel (béchamel is a sauce made of flour, milk, and butter). Then they placed a sunny side up egg on top. This sandwich was a blend of creamy and salty with all the ingredients. The runny yoke from the egg added a richness to the already creamy texture from the gruyere cheese and béchamel. The sourdough added a slight tanginess.
Another dish that was ordered was the Open Face Patty Melt. This burger patty was a combination of ground short rib and brisket. The patty that was cooked to a perfect medium, was topped with gruyere cheese, sautéed shallots, mushrooms, a house sauce, and of course a sunny side up egg. All of this was placed on a slice of marble rye bread. The patty was juicy and tender. The way the cheese melted on the meat created a wonderful texture. The shallots and mushrooms helped create a savory flavor.
There was a non-breakfast dish that was ordered by two people at the table. This was the Fish Tacos. The soft taco shells were filled with a battered, flakey fish. They topped the fish with shredded cabbage and grilled onions and peppers. Crispy French fries came of the side. The tacos were filling but both people thought the fish could have used a little spice. It was a little bland for them. Once they got some hot sauce to sprinkle on top, they were perfectly happy.
Brunch was amazing a Terrace Grille. The staff was wonderful and took great care in making sure everything was perfect. I would highly recommend visiting. They do change up some of their dishes seasonally, so check out their menu at www.terracegrillelakeland.com
Enjoy!
T
Enjoying National Beer Day at Swan Brewing. They have a great assortment of local craft beers to choose from.
Check them out at www.swanbrewing.com
Enjoy!
T
I love freshly made donuts. There is something special about biting into a warm don’t and having it just melt in your mouth. These are the types of donuts that Hole in One Donuts makes daily. They open super early each day, before the sun even rises. They do close early in the afternoon, so it is important to get there early so they do not run out.
I got there a few hours after they opened. They will had a decent amount of donuts to choose from. Plus, they had a few other items too.
I tired one of their sausage rolls. These are very similar to kolaches that I get in Texas. Their yeast roll was so sweet. The sausage on the inside was not spicy but had a great flavor from the seasoning. The saltiness from the sausage complemented the sweetness from the roll.
Now the reason I came to Hole in One Donuts was for donuts. I did get a classic glaze. It was larger in size than what you would get from one of those national chains. There was a nice amount of sweet glaze on the donut. When I took a bite, I noticed right away how soft and gooey the dough was. The glaze did not crack and fall off as I continued eating the donut. It stayed attached to the dough. It showed just how well this donut was made.
The second donut I got was the éclair. I shred this one because it was so big. The soft donut was topped with a sweet, creamy chocolate icing. It was a nice, thick layer of icing. On the inside was a creamy vanilla pudding. There was a generous amount that was piped through the entire éclair. Every bite had the perfect ratio of dough, filling, and icing.
The donuts were amazing. The sausage roll was a great, warm breakfast item. I cannot wait to go back and get a dozen of each.
Check them out of Facebook at www.facebook.com/holeinonelakeland
Enjoy!
T
