Valentine's Day menu for The Refinery

The Refinery (5137 North Florida Ave.) will be serving their Valentine's Day menu from 5pm to 9pm this Sunday evening.

Call for reservations: 813-237-2000

Appetizers:
Appalachicola Oyster: strawberry-serrano mignonette $2
Sea Scallop: vanilla, mango, cucumber, white chocolate, Sriracha $8
Goat Cheese Tart: leek, yellow foot chantrelle, creme fraiche $8

Soup:
Lobster Bisque: vanilla, ancho chiles $8

Salad:
Arugula: granny smith apple, gorgonzola, walnut, sherry vinaigrette

Entrees:
Hereford NY Strip: yukon gold-yellow foot chantrelle-gorgonzola gratin, roasted asparagus, truffle butter, zinfandel reduction $22

Mahi Mahi: sour orange, fennel, radish, mango-israeli-couscous, champagne beurre blanc $20

Duck Breast: cherry, zinfandel, chocolate, granny smith apple, risotto cake, rapini $22

Desserts:
Bleeding Heart Pavlova: macerated local berries, meringue $8
Chocolate Mousse: Mexican spices, bacon brittle

The Refinery is now open!

Seems things ramped up faster than anticipated - The Refinery (mentioned in a post below) is now open for business in the old Bungalow Bistro just up the road a piece from us here in Tampa Heights. The Bakers will be converting the restaurant (and the menu) over in the coming weeks. Stay tuned!

The Refinery set to open in Seminole Heights

While not technically in Tampa Heights, this new spot will be opening in our more popular sister's neck of the woods. Check out the details on the Creative Loafing blog.



I was a fan of the Culinary Sherpas before I was friends with them. The fact that Michelle fed me hot wings and bacon-wrapped grilled stuffed jalapenos last night in no way led to me posting this. How's that for disclosure?

Tampa Heights Food News

I don't have as much exciting information to post about Ye Olde Hoode, not like the Seminole Heights blog anyway.

Oh well, I'm trying. That counts for something, right?

So, my only news recently comes in the way of food. Bear with me.

I ate at Grass Root Organic (well, I got takeout anyway) for the first time earlier this week. I have to admit, I was extraordinarily impressed. I was a bit bummed they were out of the makings for Miso Soup and the Burrito made with a sunflower seed refried bean-like substance. I guess that's one of the pitfalls with an organic place - if you're out of stuff or waiting on seeds to sprout etc, you're at the mercy of availability.

I did have a lovely flatbread/hummus item called a Marakesh and a ramen soup. Both were quite good. I was particularly impressed with how little they feared garlic. the Marakesh was extremely fresh and tasty. I'd like to go back and eat in, everyone there was very friendly. they even let me put out cards for the show.

I also note the transition is basically complete over at the old House of Soul to it's new owner/name My House. I did have the food once since the change and I noted no real difference in quality. Good stuff.

Speaking of BBQ - I've noted Oceanic Grocery is getting a lot more variety in the meat case. It used to be all you saw were ducks, roast pork, cuttlefish and various parts I wouldn't really consider food (somebody else apparently does, so to each his own). Lately I've been seeing a lot of bbq chicken legs quarters and rib slabs - both done in that sorta 5-spice bbq style - and they're all delicious. I picked up some of both of those today as well as some supremely garlicy greens.

I got no real other news ... oh, except does anyone else notice it seems that the YMCA on Palm and Florida is constantly replacing a chunk of that iron fence because someone manages to plow into it at least once a month? That's gotta be costly to keep replacing ...

Please don't forget to send me any news tips, garage or property sales or anything else Tampa Heights related, I'll be happy to post it.

More on places to eat ...

Convenience is a major factor to me when I want to get dinner. I hate driving to South Tampa if I can avoid it. I'm also not real fond of driving too far in any other direction either.

So, why don't I get a list of easy-to-get-to Good Eats in and near Tampa Heights. Please feel free to add:

Tampa Heights/Downtown
Pesto's Italian - Tampa St.
Oceanic Supermarket's take-out/deli - Tampa St. - Mmm ... chow fun ... and you can get rad dim sum on the cheap once they've brought everything over after the rush at T.C. Choy!
Gold Ring Cafe - Tampa St. - Great breakfast spot
Grass Root Organic - Florida Ave. - I've still yet to eat there, but I hear the Miso rocks your mom.
Thai Corner - Franklin St. - Between The Hub and Tampa Theater, I have no idea why this place isn't always packed. Try the green curry soft-shelled crab!
Fly Bar - Franklin St. - Sure, it's trendy as hell right now and typically full of people I want nothing to do with, but it's a great spot with great food. The late night menu is very reasonably priced.

West Tampa
House of Soul - Columbus Ave. - Which is actually under new ownership and called something like My House or summat, but the guy told me they're about to start delivery service. Same great food!
La Teresita - Columbus Ave. - This one should go without saying. I love Vaca Frita Friday's!
Ho-Ho - Columbus Ave. - Much better take out than the little skeevy plae on Tampa and Columbus. It's worth the few extra blocks.

Ybor City
New World Brewery - 1313 8th Ave. - Thin-crust pizza and more beer than you can swing a dead cat at.
Tampa Bay Brewing Company - Centro Ybor - I'll admit, I'm still not thrilled with having to go to Centro to get my BrewCo on, but after a few months deprivation, the food was just excellent and will likely keep us coming back. Try their homebrews.
Laughing Cat - 15th St. - This place has to have the best lunch buffet in town. The dinner menu is also great, a bit more pricey though.

Getting the ball (bowl?) rolling ...

Anyone have any neighborhood eatery recommendations here in Tampa Heights?

I haven't tried Grass Root, but I've heard some good things about the food (I've also heard get takeout because they don't have AC). Just this week in Creative Loafing's Best of the Bay Issue they gave them a BotB for Best Miso Soup. I really need to check that place out.

There's also that orange Two Plate Minimum joint over near there that has a hoppin' parking lot on most nights. Anyone had the food from there?

I have eaten at Pesto's, but I really can't give a full review because I just got salad.

So what're you eating, Tampa Heights?