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! 

Lunch in Trinity, FL

Okay...Here's my very first post and I have to say that I think it's going to revolve around restaurants, because that's where the best times are had in our house! So.. I have to say that I had some great sushi today in a spot that most of you wouldn't even know existed, but you are missing out!

ICHIBAN on Duck Slough/Hwy. 54 in Trinity, Florida. A very small restaurant, about 11 tables and a sushi bar, with excellent service and the kindest waiters around. It doesn't matter if there's a language barrier - they will do everything they can to accommodate you and make things perfect! Prices are incredible, too! 2 roll lunch special with soup and salad for $7.95 and the specials are 7 days a week!

Now, for the real kicker... they are open 365 days a year and they are always so nice to us that we made a special trip up there on Christmas night so they would have customers! Okay, okay... it was nice not to have to drag out leftovers when everyone was hungry for the fourth meal of the day, too... so a little self-serving! ha! 

Just get there as soon as you can! You won't be sorry!!