Hot Willy's, Tampa, FL

Okay...I'll admit it.  I love hot dogs.  Plain, with chili and cheese, corn dogs...you name it.  And no...I do not want to know what they're made of, so don't try to tell me.  Lalalalalalalalalalala.....I can't heeeeaaaaar you.

Being a Jason Fernandez fan from way back, I was eager to try his new Ybor City sausage outpost.  This super-casual spot serves up dogs prepared over 20 different ways along with bratwurst, Polish sausage and burgers.  All the usual suspects are along for the ride...cole slaw, baked beans, tater tots and french fries.  UD channeled "The Thinker" as he paused on the way over to ponder his future.  What would it hold?  The Cuban Willy with mustard, mayo, pickles and plantain chips?    Or perhaps the Windy City Willy with mustard, relish and diced onions?  Tots or fries?  We didn't need a crystal ball, however, to know it wouldn't be the Veggie Willy.  Really?  Just eat a salad.

It was particularly fortuitous that he stumbled upon one of his favorite decision-making spots, incongruously located roadside.  You never know what you'll see in East Hillsborough county.

I think we've arrived!

We placed our order with the congenial gentleman manning the window and took a seat on the shaded patio.  Cold beers were presented quite quickly...along with some charming company in the form of one of the famous wild Ybor chickens and her precious brood.  A few tater tots later, we were all fast friends.  So freaking sweet!

My Chili Cheese Willy was nestled on a soft poppy-seed bun and liberally blanketed in hearty, beanless chili and neon orange cheddar cheese, just as God intended.  Baked beans were done right...brown-sugariffic and flavored with onion and pork.  Cole slaw was cold and crunchy...easily meeting my minimum requirements of said side dish.  I dumped most of it onto my dog, which ratcheted it one more notch heavenward.  This was a really tasty hot dog.

UD's artery-clogger of choice was the Carolina Willy, which was topped with more of the fine chili and slaw.  It was flanked by what must've been half a bag of crispy tater tots...thank goodness our little feathered friends were there to help us put them away.

Hot Willy's is a cute spot for cheap eats in Ybor.  We walked away for under $20 for two generous baskets of food and a beer apiece.  Good times!

http://www.hotwillys.com/

Columbia Cafe, Tampa, FL

Columbia Cafe is cozily situated in a cute corner of the Tampa Bay History Center, with a beautiful water view of Garrison Chanel and attractive outdoor seating for days when it's not a hundred and eleventy degrees outside (unlike this particularly Sunday).  Furthermore...why have I not heard more about the Tampa Bay History Center?  It is quite a cool little museum which we really enjoyed touring while detoxing after lunch.

Since UD melts faster in heat than the Wicked Witch of the West when doused in water, we opted to enjoy the very civilized air-conditioned interior of the cafe.  We got excellent service from Columbia neophyte, Ricky, who divulged to us that he had only been working there for a couple of weeks.  In fact, we took his his Cava Sangria virginity.  That's right...he made his veryfirst pitcher of it for us.  Don't worry...we were gentle with him and no one ever would've guessed it was his first time.

Columbia's Empanadas de Picadillo are things of beauty that I can never seem to pass up and today was no exception.  There are few things more wonderful than these pastry purses filled with spicy beef, chopped onions, garlic and green olives...especially when garnished with Columbia's black bean and corn salsa. When UD and I traveled to Argentina, I snarfed empanadas de picadillo everywhere I found them (which was pretty much everywhere) for breakfast, lunch and dinner, and the Columbia's are incredibly authentic.  These are the best I've eaten in the U.S., for sure.

The spousal unit wasn't terribly hungry, having indulged in a snack bowl of Lucky Charms an hour or so before lunch.  Still, he made room for a crusty slab of Cuban bread and a hearty cup of Spanish bean soup (a savory blend of chorizo, salt pork, chick peas, potatoes and saffron).  And look at the nice butter presentation!  Have I ever mentioned how much I despise being presented with foil-wrapped butter pats when I'm dining in an establishment any nicer than an IHOP?  I may have...once or twice at the most.

I think my $9.95 "Half and Half" entree (which is the choice of two from the selection of half a Cuban sandwich, a half order of Columbia's 1905 salad and a cup of soup) is the lunch deal of the century.  I selected the hot pressed Cuban half and the 1905 salad, which is a refreshing blend of chilled iceberg lettuce, ham and Swiss cheese strips, tomatoes (which were excluded at my request), green olives, grated Romano cheese and a garlicky oil and vinegar dressing laced with oregano.  I went in hungry and could barely eat it all.  Muy rico!

Underdog went rogue and ordered the Devil Crab Croquette, which shocked me considering the horrific Carmine's "Devil Crab" debacle...but that's another story.  This was a completely different devil crab...an edible one.  In fact, a delicious one.  Moist, seasoned blue crab meat was formed into a football shape, rolled in Cuban breadcrumbs and deep fried to golden brown perfection.  Quite a rich and substantial offering for the paltry sum of $3.95.

Both feeling rather sated at this point, we opted to split one of the the Guava and Cream Cheese pastries for dessert.  This was some pretty remarkable shiznet.  Airily light, sugar-crusted pastry concealed a decadent center of gooey guava preserves and cream cheese...the perfect size for two to share as a sweet ending to a lovely (under $50 with sangria) brunch.

Come December, you will certainly want to consider dining al fresco at Columbia Cafe...check out the view!

http://www.columbiarestaurant.com/cafe.asp

Hue, Orlando, FL

On our recent weekend in Orlando, UD and I decided to "wing it" on Friday night and land for dinner wherever the wind carried us without doing any vetting (which is kind of a fun thing to do occasionally, albeit a crap shoot).  After strolling around downtown and Lake Eola, Hue ultimately reeled us in with its creative menu and lively, inviting outdoor patio.  With a beautiful breeze blowing and a talented classical/jazz guitarist providing the relaxing musical backdrop at a sound level that was just right for enhancing the experience (nothing makes me crankier than having to shriek to be heard when I'm dining), it seemed like the perfect spot.

We arrived around 8:00 and were seated promptly at a lovely outdoor table.  A really outstanding housemade bread assortment with softened herb butter was brought out quickly at our request since I hadn't eaten since breakfast that morning and didn't want my first glass of wine to put me under the table.  I have to say that after that point, while service was professional and informed, it was also painfully slow. We sat without food or wine on a couple of occasions for ten minutes or more before our server appeared.

 

Golden Lobster Bisque was my starter of choice.  Hue's bisque is of a style I've tasted only a couple of times before...and, while I tried each time to like it, it's simply not my favorite.  Instead of the sweeter, coral-colored and uber-creamy variation which is more common (and the one I adore), the Golden Bisque offered less cream and a more intense, savory shellfish taste...probably attributable to a very reduced and concentrated stock.  I'll blame this one on my redneck palate, but it just wasn't my cup of tea (or lobster bisque)

Our Brie and Cranberry Flatbread brought a well-balanced, savory-to-sweet flavor combo to the table (fresh herbs and caramelized onion nicely offset the tang of the cranberries and mellowness of the brie), but the woefully pale and limp flatbread carrier kept it from reaching its full potential.

My entree selection was the $24 Duck Breast with Cranberry Reduction, English Peas and a Butternut Squash and Amaretto Risotto.  Sadly, while I could certainly grasp the delicious intent here, the medium rare breast I requested was served without a hint of pink remaining.  Adding insult to injury, the risotto (despite its excellent flavor) was grossly undercooked to the point of actually still being crunchy.

My Underdog fared better with his Delmonico Pork with Sweet Potato Hash, although he had to dig a bit to find sweet potato in said "hash".  After questioning one of the servers about the seeming lack of the star ingredient in the Sweet Potato Hash, she dug a few bits out of his side dish for him to see.  Clearly noting Sweet Potato Boy's disappointment in the dearth of his favorite root vegetable, she very thoughtfully brought out a side bowl of the hash so he could extract more sweet potato morsels... a very thoughtful (and unasked for) gesture.  Hash aside, he proclaimed his Delmonico Pork to be "the best pork chop I've ever eaten".

Although there was a Zucchini Cake with Pumpkin Cream Cheese Frosting on the menu that we were intrigued by, it took our server so long to get back to us for our dessert order that we were forced to abort lest we nodded off face-first into it.  That's what happens when you get old.  That's why God created Early Bird Specials.

The ratio of hits to misses during this experience probably won't bring us back (plus we're in Tampa), but I sense that we could've just been there on an off night.  Judge for yourself.

http://www.huerestaurant.com/

Emeril's Tchoup Chop, Orlando, FL

Let me make one thing clear right off the bat...I've had a crush on Emeril Lagasse ever since I first started watching the Food Network 17 years ago.  He can BAM!, "Kick it up a Notch" and crop dust the entire country with Essence as much as he wants to...my love for him is unconditional.  Besides, James Beard awards aren't exactly tossed around like Mardi Gras beads.  Stinky Emeril Haters are encouraged to move on right now, lest my evil twin "The Big Blonde with the Bad Disposition" (a sweet moniker affectionately bestowed upon me by my second...and understandably ex-...husband) rears her ugly head and bites yours off.  I'm similar to the gentle David Banner in that you wouldn't like me when I'm angry.  Just kiddin'.  Sort of.

Tchoup Chop is a visually stunning and surprisingly intimate venue (I was definitely expecting something much larger).  While the interior is bold and "buzzy" with its gleaming open kitchen and lavish colorful tile and glasswork accents, there are definitely a few soothing nods to the cuisine's South Pacific influence.  We particularly enjoyed the zero-edge pool studded with glazed ceramic lily pads that ran lengthwise through the the better part of the dining area parallel to our table.  It's a convivial yet calming respite from the frantic fray of the tourist-dense Lake Buena Vista area...and while there were some well-behaved children in the resto and they seemed to be accommodated nicely, it lacks the "family appeal" that we were so desperately trying to avoid after two days at a Disney Resort. Yay!

Service was fantastic from the moment we drove up until we left...the valet staff, our impeccable server (Stephen) and even the maitre d', who seemed to have a third eye sweeping the room.  Anytime we even thought "hey, we could use some (fill in the blank)" and glanced around for our server...he swooped in like a hawk to assess our needs if Stephen was momentarily out of sight.

Let's get on to the food.  We were served Prawn Chips with Asian Citrus Aioli upon being seated.  If you're a person who can't eat just one Lay's Potato Chip, you'd be doing yourself a favor to stay the hell away from these things. The delicate, melt in your mouth crisps are made of rice flour and shrimp flakes.  Coupled with their creamy, zippy dipping sauce, these seafoam delights are truly crack-like.

UD loved the look of the Tasting Menu with wine pairings, so he went with that.  $80 got him four courses (along with generous accompanying wine pours with the first three).  First up (and an offering I truly coveted) were his Crispy Sweet Corn Fritters.  Hot and golden brown, the fritters were sweet, cloud-like, corn-studded on the inside and beautifully complemented by roasted garlic and truffle aoli for dipping.

Ordering off of the regular menu, I started with Mongolian Glazed Slow Roasted Pork Belly served in Chinese style steamed buns with Napa cabbage.  I've been served blubbery, unspiring pork belly on a couple of occasions fairly recently, which always sends me spiraling into She-Hulk mode.  In this case, however, the generous meat chunks were rich, tender, flavorful and had a relatively low fat quotient.  The pork belly converged with a sweet and spicy glaze, the pungent crunch of the Napa cabbage and the marshmallow texture of the freshly steamed buns to create one of my favorite tastes of the evening.

My better half's second course was Panko Crisped Palmetto Creek Farms Pork Cheek Galette...which almost made me want to throw the pork belly I was so enamored of before I tasted this on the ground like a stale Twinkie (not really...but the galette was mind-reelingly good!).  Must. Find. More. Pork. Cheek.

My Tchoup Chop Salad was the only thing that marginally disappointed as far as I was concerned.  Billed as a blend of mixed Asian greens, candied pecans, orange supremes and creamy soy dressing...it was extremely light on everything but the greens.  While the presentation was pretty, it was all so dry that I almost felt like I was meadow grazing.  I think if the dressing hadn't been so scant, it would've been more enjoyable...in retrospect, I should've asked for more.

Underdog's Tasting Menu entree was a Pepper Grilled Black Angus Ribeye.  Served with caramelized on the outside and creamily-dreamy on the inside roasted fingerling potatoes, asparagus and a Burgundy reduction sauce, it was both simple and delicious...the only caveat being that the steak was definitely cooked to medium temp as opposed to the medium rare which was requested.  Presented barely pink, it was moist and flavorful, nonetheless.  Still, UD has been known to sulk when his steak is not still mooing and spurting blood upon delivery...although he was so happy with everything else that he dialed it down to a pout this time and ate every bite.

Simple grilled or pan seared fish usually is rarely my first entree choice, but the Cilantro Seared Pacific Yellow Tail whispered my name on this particular occasion.  Presented on a bed of shrimp fried rice and accompanied by a soy bacon-corn sauce, it was moist and sweet on the inside with a nice exterior sear.  Really good stuff.

Dogboy's dessert proved to be more exciting than expected.  The Coconut Raspberry Trifle was a rich concoction of coconut and strawberry mousses layered with mascerated raspberries, coconut and strawberry sauce.  I couldn't keep my spoon out of it.

HowEVAH...Emeril's Banana Cream Pie (which our server informed me in advance was Emeril's mother's recipe and would be like none I'd ever tasted before) was off the chain.  While Jimbo was a little bummed because it wasn't more like that Jello-pudding-with-mushy-oxidizing-banana-slices comfort creation that our moms proudly served in the '60s and '70s (I guess he was feeling nostalgic), I rejoiced in the thick graham cracker crust and the sturdiness of both fruit and custard (the latter of which was almost the consistency of cheesecake).  The addition of piles of whipped cream, carmel sauce and jumbo chocolate curls made saddlebag thighs seem like a reasonable trade-off..

It was a wonderful dining experience overall and, while not exactly cheap, it's less expensive than the original Emeril's and I enjoyed it more.  We like it here!

http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/7/Emerils-Tchoup-Chop/

Carne Chophouse, Tampa, FL

I couldn't wait to try Carne since its sister resto, Bernini, is one of my fave spots in Ybor...not to mention the fact that new blood is always welcome in East Tampa (plus, Ybor needed a steak restaurant).  We gave it a couple of weeks to "get its groove on" and hit it last weekend for an early dinner. 

Built in 1912 as the El Centro Español Building, the resto still exudes its original charm...and I love the fact that the colorful Spanish tile floors have been preserved despite a few worn spots.  The high ceilings keep things from getting too loud and there's plenty of brocade, velvet and dark wood around to enhance the "old-school" steakhouse experience echoed by Carne's delightfully pleasing traditional menu.  Sort of a "Bern's Ultra Light"...with equally light pricing. 

Underdog was already salivating in anticipation of sinking his pearly whites into a bloody chow chop....

...but after a few beers and a coma-inducing movie (The Raven) experience beforehand, he couldn't resist test-driving one of the comfy-looking chaise longues in the cozy adjacent sitting area before the food started coming out.

We got attentive and well-informed service from Mortimer (aka Marty) who helpfully walked us through the menu.  While UD enjoyed a glass of Steele Shooting Star Syrah and I sipped on Sonoma Cutrer Chardonnay, we bickered our way through the enticing selection of apps which included classic favorites like Deviled Eggs, Escargot, Carne's spin on Oysters Rockefeller and Bacon Fried Chicken Livers (my first choice).  In a last ditch effort to keep us out of marriage counseling, I succumbed to my better half's raging desire for the Prosciutto Wrapped Mozzerella.  We both love prosciutto and cheese, but I feel safe reporting that I probably would've personally enjoyed one of the aforementioned starters a little more.  I adore salt in a way that should've given me a heart attack long ago (which is one of the reasons I so appreciate cured hams), but the saltiness of this starter proved to be a bit much for my palate and I couldn't really put my finger on its origin.  That said, I've seen several other online reviewers give it two thumbs up, so take my opinion with a grain of...well, you know.

One of the things I really like about Carne is the surprisingly reasonable price structure coupled with quality cuisine and the plethora of extras that are delivered with every entree. A la carte "nickle-and-diming" is virtually non-existent here, although you may pay a dollar or two extra for the occasional upgrade. Every entree includes bread, soup or salad and a side dish of your choice.  Dogboy, being a split pea soup lover from way back, zeroed right in on Jason's Split Pea and Smoked Ham Hock Soup with Truffled Parmesan Crouton.  He was thrilled with what showed up...and even I liked it, despite the fact that pea soup is generally relatively low on my list of turn-ons.  It was silkier and somewhat thinner than most I've tasted with a nutty, smoky ham flavor. 

I selected the Iceberg Wedge Salad to accompany my entree and it was the best restaurant salad I've enjoyed in long time (high praise coming from one whose heart is not ordinarily set aflutter by iceberg lettuce).  A textbook  cold and crunchy wedge was presented on a chilled plate, adorned generously with red onion, meaty applewood smoked bacon cumbles and an amazing cheesily-chunky and somewhat spicy roquefort dressing.  This thing has truly addictive qualities, so please...enjoy responsibly!

In addition to God's Own Salad, my entree...a tender and juicy 10 oz. slab of Prime Rib...also came with crispy onion straws, a loaded baked potato (one of the many side dish selections) and crusty bread with herb-infused butter...for $17.  WTF?   I almost felt like I was stealing.

Underdog opted for the 18 oz. Cowboy Ribeye with the $2 Bleu Cheese Crust add-on.  It was carnivore's dream, despite maybe being a degree or two warmer than the medium rare temp requested. 

His side dish of Green Beans, Onions, Crispy Bacon and Toasted Almonds almost brought a tear to the eye of this southern girl. 

The dessert menu held nothing terribly out of the ordinary, with choices limited to Strawberry Shortcake, Chocolate Cream Pie, Rum Caramel Flan, Baked Alaska (well, I guess that actually is somewhat out of the ordinary) and New York Style Cheesecake.  While I catch the retro drift here, I need more exciting temptations if I'm going to barter my caloric chips for more workouts and post-binge carrot-and-celery-stick purging.  Maybe Bananas Foster or Bread Pudding would help (hint).  The Chocolate Cream Pie we shared a few nibbles of was rich and creamy, but not especially memorable.  To be fair, heavy chocolate desserts are not my favorites to begin with...but Dogboy argued against the Strawberry Shortcake (which was highly recommended by our server) that I was leaning toward and I was too full to put up up a good fight at that point.   I think Carne needs to bring Satan in as a Sweet Ending Consultant.

It's tough to find an upscale place in Tampa where two steak dinners with all the trimmings, an appetizer, a shared dessert and cocktails will only set you back around $100...which is what this meal cost with two nicer glasses of wine apiece (before tip).  While it's quite new and almost certainly still working out a few kinks, Carne Chophouse is nonetheless definitely worth a visit right now.

http://www.carnechophouse.com/

Cajun Cafe on the Bayou, Pinellas Park, FL

Somehow, I managed to drive by Cajun Cafe on the Bayou hundreds of times over the course of the 20 years I spent living on the Pinellas beaches without ever stopping in.  Set back from the highway and situated among tall grass next to a bona fide bayou, it almost throws off a "roadhouse" vibe which its dirt parking lot does little to alleviate (think Sam Merlotte's place on "True Blood").  Something about it always made me feel like a girl could wind up feeding the gators out back if she went in on the wrong night...and I mean that in the least fun way possible.  Just goes to show that you can't judge a book by its cover because whatever weird, preconceived notions I had could not have been further from reality. The interior is kitschy, quaint and welcomingly tranquil.  There's no loud Zydeco music (no loud music period), no pool tables, no TVs and cell phone use is politely discouraged (pinch me, I must be dreaming). The waterfront screened dining area provided a relaxing water view and a nice cross-breeze. 

UD and I met up with JR (fellow blogger and editor of the SOG City Oracle) and his lovely bride, The Belle of Ballast Point, for the second of many (I hope) gastronomic convergences.  Ever since planning this outing and perusing Cajun Cafe's online menu, I have had visions of Crawfish Cornbread dancing in my head.  I had high hopes to begin with and this shiznet seriously exceeded my expectations.  The golden-brown cornbread was made with finely ground meal and was so moist that it almost had the consistency of a pudding cake.  Its sweet and tender texture was beautifully offset by the savory combo of corn kernels, chopped onions, jalapeno bits and mud bug morsels.  The starter portion was quite generous and allowed us all to sample a nice slab.

The boyz wanted to try the Boudin Balls, which were dense, golf ball-sized spheres of pork, pork liver, onions and rice which had been dipped in ale, rolled in cracker meal and deep fried.  Served with a remoulade sauce, I thought they were quite flavorful...albeit a bit heavy.  I opted not to squander too much precious stomach space on them. 

The thinly sliced french fried onions were truly a thing of beauty.  Presented piping hot and enrobed in only a gossamer coating of spicy, seasoned flour, these babies are what the Bloomin' Onion aspires to be when it grows up. 

Entree time...yay!  Having spent the first 30 years of my life in Tennessee, I have to admit that (by law) I really love battered and fried foods. As the years have gone by, however, I have begun to appreciate a lighter hand with the breading.  My "Big Tail On" fried shrimp were about as a perfect a rendition as I've ever had.  Again, the crisp and well-spiced crusty veneer was razor thin, the shrimp were beyond "big", the grease factor was practically non-existent and CCB's rendition of dirty rice (seasoned with ground beef instead of livers and other organs, which was a slight disappointment to me but probably gives this version more mainstream appeal) was excellent.  Everything presented to us was hot and obviously prepared to order (two things I have a great appreciation for when dining out). 

BOBP, the landlubber in our midst, selected the Creole Roasted Pulled Pork which proved to be an excellent choice.  The pork was literally falling apart, just as God intended, and the Creole garlic sauce it was bathed in rawked. She ordered the fried veggies as a side, which were probably the least impressive offerings of the afternoon as far as I was concerned.  Mushy bits of broccoli, cauliflower and baby carrots were presented deep-fried in a not-so-crispy batter. Not bad, but not up to par with the rest of the fried stuff.

JR and UD went with two pounds of crawfish and spent the next hour feverishly ripping heads and sucking brains like Neanderthals, all the while washing everything down with copious slurps of frosty grog.  Lydia, do you hear grunting? 

Stuffed to the gills as we were, there was no way the gurlz wuz gonna pass on the Whiskey Bread Pudding, and thank gawd we let our hormones guide us like we did.  This was some stellar bread pudding.  Columbia Restaurant White Chocolate Bread Pudding, step down...I have a new favorite.  Imagine if a Cinnabon was soaked in custard, then baked until it was still moist on the inside but had chewy, caramelized edges.  Dream big, and envision it swimming in a 90 proof melted cinnamon roll frosting.  That's what we're talkin' about here.  Unbelievable.

Can I be your friend, Bread Pudding Boy?

Attentive service, a fine selection of craft ales, reasonably-priced food that exceeded expectations at almost every turn and fine foodie friends made this an afternoon we'll be remembering fondly for quite awhile.  Thanks for joining us guys...good times and excellent resto choice!

www.cajuncafeonthebayou.com