Tag: Clearwater

I love going to brunch on the weekends. It is a fun time to get together with friends and family and catch up on the past week events. I am always looking for new places to try out for brunch. The Rusty Pelican was one of those places that popped up on my list.

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It is located on the water in Clearwater, Florida. Almost every room has a beautiful view of the water. There is no better way to enjoy brunch!

The restaurant is very large inside and can accommodate any size group. Rather than sitting in the bar area, I got a table in one of their rooms. The fireplace was going for ambiance and the sun was shinning that day. If you sat too close to the window you definitely would need to wear a pair of sunglasses.

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The first thing I noticed on the brunch menu was their Bottomless Mimosas. They offered four different flavors to choose from. I was excited to try all four.

The first mimosa was my favorite, Pineapple Peach. I knew it would be my favorite even before tasting it because it was pineapple juice. The mimosa was sweet. The pineapple was the first flavor I tasted. Then when I took a second sip, this is when I noticed the peach flavor. This was for sure one of the mimosa’s I would get a second glass of.

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The second mimosa was the Watermelon Fresca. This one was very light in taste and refreshing. The watermelon was front and forward. It hid the flavor of the champagne.

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The third mimosa was the Apple Cider Pumpkin Spice. I thought the timing of this flavor was a bit odd. I would expect this one more in the fall. There was no pumpkin taste. It was all apple flavor with a hint of cinnamon and nutmeg accents. It was not my favorite. This would have been better warmer for the holidays.

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The last mimosa flavor I got to try was the Tangerine Ginger. The tangerine juice was sweet but slightly tart. Very different from a traditional orange juice mimosa. There was a hint of ginger flavor mixed in. It would have been nice if a little piece of candied ginger was included.

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There were a few starters ordered for the table. The Key West Conch Fritters were amazing. It has been a while since I had conch fritters.

They were loaded with tender conch. The seasoning in the breading was sweet and salty. They were just like what I got when I visited Key West. They served the fritters with a Pina Colada dipping sauce. The coconut flavor paired well with the seasoning of the fritter. It actually enhanced the overall taste.

The other started was the Blackened Scallops. The scallops were fresh and large. The blackening seasoning was not overpowering. The meat was ender and melted in my mouth. They served the scallops with a blood orange preserve. The sweetness from the preserve married well with the sweetness of the scallops and toned down the saltiness of the blackening seasoning.

For my brunch I went for a three-egg omelet with tomato and cheese mixed in. They topped it off with slices of fresh avocado. The omelet was large and with the two starters I tried I was starting to get a little full. I had to start pacing myself.

They used a lot of cheddar cheese which contributed to making the omelet filling. The tomatoes were chopped up and added a freshness and helped break up all the cheese. I ended up eating the avocado slices by themselves.

On the side came a Tater Tot Smash. This was their version of hash browns. They came out nice and crispy. There was so much I could not finish.

I got to try their Hangover Hash as well. This hash was braised prime rib on top of the tater tot smash. Then they placed a perfectly poached egg on top, along with a homemade hollandaise sauce. This was a different type of breakfast hash for sure. The prime rib was cooked spectacularly; it just pulled apart as soon as I touched it with the fork.

The flavor was savory, and the hollandaise sauce added a creaminess. I did not try the poached egg, but I was told it was delicious. The tater tot hash added a crunch, but it also acted as a way to soak up the sauce.

Even with all the food eaten, I still left a little room for dessert. There was no way I could eat something by myself, but I knew I could share the Key Lime Pie. The slice came out cut as a square verse a triangle. This was perfect because it allowed for less crust and more filling. The filling was slightly tart and sweet. The meringue on top was firm and had a nice browning that created a slight toasted taste. It was the perfect Florida dessert.

The food was fantastic at The Rusty Pelican. I enjoyed everything I tired. I really like the assortment of mimosas they offered. I would go back any time for brunch, and I would also like to try something off their dinner menu.

Check out their offerings a www.therustypelicantampa.com

Enjoy!

T

Are you looking for a little piece of New York’s Little Italy in Florida? If you said yes then you must head over to Felice Italian Pork Store & Deli. It is tucked away in a shopping center but when you walk in you think you have been transported to New York.

There are racks of imported Italian sauces, oils, and foods including a freezer section filled with pastas.

There are deli cases full of fresh cheeses, homemade sausages, deli meats, fresh Italian breads, and pastries. Plus there are fresh made Italian dishes that you can either get them to go or have them warmed up and eat in their small cafe area.

     

     

     

I did get some items to go in order to fill up the refrigerator at home. However, I could not pass up having lunch there. I started off with a bottle of Manhattan Special. This is a coffee soda that is sweet and bubbly. I have never seen this outside of New York.

I made sure to get some of the fresh Italian bread. It had a crispy crust and was soft on the inside. I ate a few pieces with some fresh olive oil but saved the rest to dip in the pasta sauce that would be coming with my order.

I picked out a few things from the deli case. The good thing is they warmed everything up until it was nice and hot and then they drenched it in the pasta sauce.

The aranchini was the first thing I tried. I love aranchini and I always get them when they are on menus. The filling was ground sausage, peas, and mozzarella cheese. The sausage was full of flavor and tasted amazing with the sauce. These rice balls were really cheesy. The rice helped soak up more herb flavor from the sauce. Absolutely delicious!

The next thing on the plate that I tried was the meatball. It was only one and it was huge. The meat was dense but still very moist. They did not use a lot of filler so the seasoning of the meat shined through and it had great texture.

The final item was the eggplant. This was an Eggplant Rollatini. It was filled with cheese so when I cut it the cheese just oozed out. The eggplant was cooked perfectly. It was tender but still firm. Eggplant and cheese go so well together.

Now I could not go to an Italian place without getting a cannoli. Because my lunch was so filling I got a cannoli to go. I knew I would enjoy it later.

This was one of the best cannoli I have ever had. The shell was super crispy. Sometimes cannoli shells can get slightly soggy once the filling is in. The filling was creamy and soft. It did not have that gritty texture that sometimes can happen. They also were extremely generous with the filling; they filled all the way through the shell. I took a bite and filling went everywhere.

Felice’s was a great find. Whether you are eating there or taking something home you will not be disappointed. Check them out at www.felicedeli.com

Enjoy!

T

Through a sea of Seafood and Cuban restaurants in Clearwater Beach, there is a unique spot that stands out – Pierogi Grill. I found this Polish restaurant several years ago and I am excited to see it still going strong today.

 

I arrived hungry on purpose since I knew I wanted to get a big Polish meal. I started off with a bowl of homemade chicken noodle soup. It was a classic in every sense. The skinny noodles and chunks of chicken reminded me of the soup my mom would make when I was sick. It really is a comfort food.

For my main meal, I went for the pierogi and stuffed cabbage. It had been so long since I had stuffed cabbage and I wanted to see how close it came to my mother’s.

Choosing which pierogi to try was a tough decision. They have many to choose from – spinach, meat, sauerkraut, cheese, potato. I went for the potato and cheddar. They boil their pierogi and then sauté them in chopped onion. The potato and cheddar filling had a fantastic flavor and was extremely creamy. The pierogi dough was the perfect thickness – not too much and was balanced out with a generous amount of filling.

The stuffed cabbage was covered in a wonderful tomato sauce. The cabbage was soft and tender, with a sweet taste. The filling of fresh ground meat was moist and had the right amount of rice mixed in. The blending of the sauce, cabbage, and meat mixture was perfect. These were not heavy stuffed cabbages. It was close to my mom’s recipe but not exactly the same. However, it was a great substitute.

Another wonderful feature of the Pierogi Grill is their European market. If you want to get something to cook at home you must walk through. They sell all of their homemade pierogi by the dozen. Check out their assortment of meats – including homemade kielbasa.

If you have a sweet tooth, check out their desserts, including nut roll, just like my mom makes at Christmas.

    

Grab a container of Kolachki cookies – a shortbread cookie stuffed with a fruit jam and dusted with powdered sugar. It is perfect for the car ride home.

   

If you are of Polish heritage wanting a taste of old world flavors or just wanting to try something new, check out Pierogi Grill. They do not have a website but make sure to like them on Facebook: facebook.com/pierogigrill

Plus visit them on your birthday for a free dinner!

Enjoy!

T

One of my favorite restaurants in Clearwater, Florida is Columbia Restaurant. They have multiple locations now but I have been visiting their Clearwater location for years. This Spanish-Cuban restaurant has been serving customers for over 100 years, and it is still family owned which is wonderful! They are rooted in family tradition and you can see that in the consistency of their famous dishes and drinks.

  

One of the reasons I love their Clearwater location is I can sit outside on their deck that overlooks the bay. Watching the boats go by reminds me why Florida is a perfect vacation spot.

On a hot summer afternoon, a pitcher of Columbia’s famous sangria is a must. They have red or white, I went for the white. What adds to the enjoyment of this sangria is they make it for you right at your table.

     

I love getting to watch every ingredient that goes into it, plus the care that the server puts into making it just right.

    

They use a Sauvignon Blanco that is made just for the restaurant. They mix in fresh citrus juices and a touch of brandy. This is the BEST sangria I have ever had. I measure all others I try based on this one.

For an appetizer I got the Ybor City Devil Crab Croquette. It’s made with fresh blue crab, paprika, and garlic. It’s rolled and covered in Cuban breadcrumbs then deep fried. There was a little spice to it but it balanced out with a sip of sangria.

    

The show stopper that is a must have for anyone visiting Columbia Restaurant is the “1905 Salad”. This salad is tossed right at your table. The chopped lettuce is mixed with julienne ham, Swiss cheese, turkey (if you want to add that), tomato, olives, grated Romano cheese and their homemade garlic dressing. It’s the dressing that makes this salad irresistible.

   

You can get a smaller version of the salad, but I recommend the full size that they table can share. This is one of the only salads that I have ever been able to eat as my meal. It’s refreshing on a summer afternoon overlooking the water.

Whether you are there on vacation or just having a quick lunch, being at Columbia helps you forget your troubles. Check out their website at www.columbiarestaurant.com  to find a location near you. You can always stop by their Tampa airport location before you get on your plane back home.

Enjoy!

T