Raw Food is the bomb!

I had my first experience with raw food today! Yay to being healthy! This is not something that comes easily to me, so I was skeptical and actually more than a little excited about trying it out. I went to a place called Grassroots in Tampa on North Florida Avenue and let's just say it's in an interesting neighborhood, but more than worth trekking over to find it! PLEASE go try it out! 

I had the pleasure of getting together with an old college friend that I hadn't talked to in a year so we had time to have a nice chat and catch up and all the while she filled me in on the benefits of raw food, enzymes, supplements, wheat grass, etc. It was very enlightening...Zzzzzzzz! No, seriously, it WAS interesting, just a bit much for the first visit. I was still processing the fact that I was eating 'RAW SUSHI' which in actuality only had the ingredient of nori (seaweed) to hold in all of the raw veggies and sprouts that filled it. Not quite the sushi I'm used to consuming - but tasty! REALLY!! 

We also tried the Chik sandwich, non-chicken, of course! It came on a basic whole grain bun and is a sure bet for the skeptic - along with the vegan hamburger or hotdog! But I have to say my absolute favorite was the vegan burrito. Instead of a heavy tortilla, it is wrapped in romaine and the interior was filled with grains that were ground into a paste that had an incredible flavor. I could've eaten this for dinner, too! 

On a sad note, the signature sandwich comes on homemade onion bread that wasn't ready yet and wouldn't be for another hour...it was 1 pm when we arrived... hmmmm. But, the green smoothie chock-full of veggies and fruits was very good, although I must admit, I just tasted it and proceeded to order the green tea with ginger which I thoroughly enjoyed!

I must apologize for the lack of pics (sorry C!), I suppose my only excuse was getting caught up with my friend and forgetting my duties! I will work on that and try not to let it happen again!

So, for tonight, go RAW!!

Cooking for Jack... and me!

So... have you ever had the opportunity to cook any of the recipes out of Cooks Illustrated? I believe that's the name of the magazine my friend uses to cook and boy, oh boy, did he cook last night!! I'm amazed every other week by his culinary skills - it's quite delicious! 

First, I have to tell you that we have this 24 thing going... we are obsessed with Jack Bauer - seriously! So, every week we take turns cooking a meal before the big show and last night was a doozie - can you believe that Tony Almeida is such a bad guy after everything he and Jack have been through? I'm SO disappointed!! Maybe he's in cahoots with the President's daughter - cause she's sleazy as they get!!

Okay, back to the meal - he made Grilled Teriyaki Beef , some fantastic fried brown rice with mushrooms and broccoli and a salad that he topped with his home-grown tomatoes! Now, I ask you...WHAT AM I GOING TO MAKE NEXT WEEK TO TOP THAT?? Jeez, I wish he'd take it down a notch, this is getting ridiculous! Last week the pressure was too great so I took us out for wings - but, they were GREAT wings! Okay, okay, I know... epic fail. 

I'll do better next week and let you know - 

A bite of the Big Apple!

Another day, another city...but, this time it's the best city on the planet...serving the best pizza on the planet (according to Zagat!) which is why I HAD to try it... I thought, "How can it be the best on the planet?? How is this possible??" Let me tell you...it's undeniable! Wowza! Lombardi's Pizza on Spring Street in New York City is awesome. Absolutely the most flavorful, perfected crust, yummy ricotta, amazing crushed tomato sauce... running out of adjectives here... but you can see, I'm hooked and can't wait for another trip to try a different combination! 

Then, to make a great meal even better, cross the street when you're done at Lombardi's and serve your sweet tooth some delicious rice pudding at Rice to Riches! Yes, made famous in Sex and the City, it now stands on it's own as a dessert highlight!

You'll laugh when I tell you one of our best meals in the city was from the Rickshaw Dumpling truck. No lie! And right next to their red truck sits a ratty old white truck that just says dessert truck on it... making the cities best truck creme brulee, goat cheese donuts with chocolate sauce, molten chocolate cake with vanilla creme sauce and these were so good I can't remember the other two desserts they offered - all for $5 each! It's a bargain and they package it up for you to take to your hotel, although there were about 15 people standing around eating it right there on the street corner! 

I LOVE NEW YORK!!!!!

Back in town!

Well, here I am again... I've been out of town visiting University of Illinois and I have to tell you I had plenty of good fare down in the mid-state Illinois cornfields! 

I first have to rave about Antonio's Pizza on Green Street in Champaign. Okay, I must confess that it was about 2:30 am, but I really don't think that influenced the fact that their Potato Pizza was incredibly tasty!! Seriously! (and cheap!) So, I added in the mushroom, spinach and feta slice also, which was great as well, but I couldn't keep my mind from going back to the potato pizza all weekend!

Also, I have to confess that I didn't write down the name of this next place, but there aren't too many Vietnamese restaurants in Savoy, IL (pop. 6,100) that serve Chinese dim sum everyday. I have an affinity for dim sum and have tried it from San Fran to Chicago to NYC and I have to say this place on Neil Street was amazing!

Had a great time this weekend at the Fly Bar and Restaurant in downtown Tampa. Very unusual location and it wasn't anything like what I thought. I was expecting this really hip, modern venue and it turned out to be an almost rustic, very casual atmosphere. Very much enjoyed sitting outside dining and the tapas were excellent - some of the best in town! They have a very small bar on the rooftop, but it seemed to serve mainly smokers, so my stay was short... sorry, camel lovers! 

Anyway, it would be a great place to relax as a couple, as a group or a fun place to take friends when in from out-of-town, too. The live music started about 10:30p, Hip Abduction, which you HAVE to check out their music on their website or iTunes. 

The nightlife in Tampa is certainly improving immensely and I'm loving it!!

Ybor Festival of Moving Pictures

I hope you made it to see 'The Agreeable Husband' tonight at the Festival. It is a work in progress, as Ami Sallee-Corley discussed, but it was alot of fun to watch. While I'm really not very good at judging dancing, I enjoyed the way the theme was carried throughout the show and it made me laugh to see the poor 'husband' seem so led around by his nose... or in this case, his tie!  Is it really like this? My husband seems to think so, as did the husband of my friend that was with us. Hmmmmm... I'll have to give that some thought. Maybe over dinner that he can cook and then clean up after! ha!

Anyway, there's more Festival to be had - so don't miss out! Only 2 more days to support the arts in Tampa Bay! Well, at least at the Festival!

More Sushi!!!

Here is another great sushi spot if you're into sushi, live in Tampa and don't want to drive to Trinity to get it...although Ichiban IS worth the drive for fresh sushi! Anyway... try Yoko's on South MacDill. It's hidden in a little strip center and you could drive right by, but you'd be sorry because there really isn't better sushi in South Tampa that we've found... and we eat ALOT of sushi! Try the Tuna Tartar - it's fantabulous, right along with the Hawaiian roll. I can't put into words the skill the chef has with the sauces. Each roll comes in a different blend of sauce and each one highlights the flavors and brings me back again and again. We definitely have our favorite sushi bars depending on if we feel like sashimi, the Charlie's, but that's for another day... but Yoko's is for the saucy days! yummmm... go today and you'll see me there!