CDB's Pizza & Italian Cuisine

Joe found this great little place right next to USF and even more importantly, Starbucks. Pizza is their self-proclaimed speciality, so we got the "AT-FM" edition. It had artichokes, tomatos, and mushrooms so we were at a loss at to where the "F" came in, but apparently that is their assurance that if nothing else, at least the mushrooms, or "M", is fresh. Do the other ingredients carry that guarantee? We don't know, but it was an excellent pizza two days in a row. Joe let me have the leftovers - what a guy! I love it.
The staff is also extremely helpful - a wink and a joke from Joe later, and our waitress was patrolling the restaurant's perimeter, reporting back to us wide-eyed about every appearance of any professor who we may have been discussing.
CBD has been in business since 1974 and apparently, my mother went here back in the day! Who'd thunk it?


www.cdbspizza.com
5104 E Fowler Ave
Between 51st and 52nd St.
Tampa, FL 33617
(813) 985-1336

Today in Food History

According to foodreference.com, today is National Baked Scallops Day. So let us give that noble bi-valve its proper due on this historic occasion.

Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant

The latest meeting of the Food Club was a smashing success with JackieP's suggestion of Ceviche. Apparently I'm the last person in the world to know about this hot spot in Hyde Park, but I'm glad to finally join the rest of society in admiration of it.

Ceviche is ideally suited to a group like ours which likes ordering alot of different things and sampling everyone else's food. Between the 5 of us, we ordered 9 tapas and 4 desserts. The Ceviche de Atun blew my mind. Sushi-grade tuna was marinated in lemon and lime juice, cilantro, onion and jalapeno served on a bed of fresh lettuce in a martini glass. It was sweet yet tart, full of flavor yet allowing the delicate freshness of the fish to shine through. Yeah, I pretty much hogged all that. All the mushrooms and cheese dishes were rousing successes - definitely check out the queso de cabra - baked goat cheese with tomatoes and basil. I liked the crabcake and chorizo dishes less, but they were still good.

Desserts are huge - plan to share. The chocolate cake was phenonmenal, the coconut ice cream great, the mousse was tiny but tasty, and even the almond pastry rose above my mediocre expectations.

Chowhound commented on the prices and given the price of each item, I was expecting an uncomfortable bill or an empty stomach. However, the 5 of us couldn't even eat all that we had ordered, though we made a pretty good showing. Everyone was full and each person's share came to less than $25. For the variety and quality we got, it was amazing. I think the key is going in a group. They are very accomodating - Our group expanded unexpectedly and the staff soon found us a new table. Definitely find some friends, or just invite me and check it out!

Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant
www.ceviche.com
(813) 250-0134
2109 Bayshore Blvd
Tampa, FL
5 forks!!
$$-$$$

Asian Market

In addition to eating out, I adore cooking and am always on the look out for local markets that can help me out with my favorite ethnic tastes.
Asian Market Incorporated
(727) 842-6338
5205 Sr-54, New Port Richey, FL 34652

It was after 6 when Gino and I showed up, and the door was locked but the tiny proprietess was still sweeping inside. She opened up for us and we had a great time perusing shelves piled high with tea, strange sauces, exotic spices and all manner of goods familiar and unusual. She scurried around finding everything we requested and promised me some fresher lime leaves from her tree out back if we came earlier next time. Everything was very reasonably priced and Gino and I were able to turn out some repsectable Thai flavors with our purchases.

Lambs and Roses

What a sweet pastoral title. Except that I was eating both. How barbaric.
I haven't had much in the way of Persian cuisine, so this really was a new experience for me. The Mirage is a favorite of Amy's and for good reason. Our arrival was greated with perfectly soft, warm pitas, feta, and parsley, prompting Amy to share an amusing anecdote about her roommate's boyfriend's unnatural obsession with that aforementioned dairy product.
Fresh. That's the first thing that came to mind as I munched on the succulent veggies with my lamb kabob. Flavors are simple and natural. Nothing is overcooked into blandness - all preparation only serves to enhance and intensify flavors. Each item shines on its own, no globs of sauce, no heavy spices: "it is what it is."
I also tried the Persian ice cream - the waitress mentioned rose, pistachio, and saffron, I didn't know they were all together. Americans are so accustomed to in-your-face flavors, "Double Chocolate Expresso Power Blast" it's nice to step back and appreciate subtle flavors and sweet rose essences. Definitely try this, it's really awesome.
I bet the M-F "all you can eat lunch buffet" is amazing. Not particularly cheap fare, but very good.

2284 Gulf To Bay Blvd
Clearwater, FL 33765
(727) 724-3604
http://www.miragerestaurant.com/
$$

Sorrento Bakery

For a third of the price of a certain skim-non-fat-no-whip-mocha-frappa-latte thing, you can have a homemade treasure. This little spot of heaven is one of the jewels of Pasco. (Yes, there are some) The whole place is just a feast for the eyes and forget pedicures, nothing helps a rough day like a cannoli. Now I'm not Italian, so don't start yelling at me about how no pastry could be as good as your grandmother's, etc. Unless your grandmother is kind enough to provide for my cannoli cravings on demand, I'll have to take what I can get. The ingredients are shipped in from the Big Apple anyways, so that has to count for something. Gino got this amazing half chocolate cake/half cheesecake dipped in more chocolate thing. The big pastries run you about $1.65, which is an ok price for bliss in my book. They also have a full supply of cookies, little pick me ups by the pound, and savory breads.

Word on the street is that this is also a pizzeria, but I haven't gotten to that part quite yet. Somebody check it out and report back to me!

9721 US Highway 19 # 5-6,
Port Richey, FL 34668
(727) 848-2434

La Casa Dolce

La Casa Dolce is loosely translated as "House of Happiness." With panninis, tea, and most of all GELATO, what more could one ask for? A smoothie you say? Well, they have that too! Check the website for coupons and you could get a free fruity treat. The gelato is delightful - I love the double cream, the tiramisu, but the pistachio gelato is by far the best. Sweet, but not too sweet with a warm nuttiness. They are dog friendly! Last time Jackie, Shery and I dined with the darling Clyde and Domino. Domino enjoyed the adoration of the masses while Clyde hid under the table. The servers didn't mind, and there is usually a water bowl out for thirsty little dogs. Now that I have poochies, I'll try to include places that are friendly to the canine race, with C&D as my loyal assistants.

I have a lead on a place in New Port Richey that should be awesome! A future review!

406 S Howard Ave
Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 259-0002
www.lacasadolcecafe.com
:-)-$

Malena’s Mexican Restaurant

Though I tend to be very resistant to change I have a happy update on one of my favorite restaurants. Previously featured on Adventures in Food, Malena’s Mexican Restaurant has moved to a permanent location! While I miss the ambience of the bus (I fully acknowledge the irony of that statement but I was rather attached) many positive changes have resulted.

First the good – Malena’s is now open seven days a week. Breakfast has made the menu (and more importantly there is a menu where everyone can be absolutely sure they are ordering the chicken and not the beef tongue or cow’s head meat). I have also discovered several new dishes which must have existed all along, but I never knew about. Delivery is also a welcome option. Finally food in the university area which isn’t pizza (note however that a minimum order of $20 is required)!

What hasn’t changed is the amazing food. For those trying to find an authentic restaurant I believe this as good as it gets without a passport. For proof I proffer this point – I was the only gringa present in the restaurant on my most recent foray. Prices remain stunningly low. No matter how hard I try (or over-tip) my total rarely breaches $10.

One thing not to be missed is the Horchata, a mix of rice milk and spices that is hard to describe yet has failed to find an enemy among the many friends to whom I have insistently handed a cup. Another must try is a torta– though all the food is amazing this is the one that feels special to me. You can get a quesadilla or burrito almost anywhere, but these amazing sandwiches are a little harder to find. I recommend the pork (carnitas) which is remarkable because I am not a huge pork fan. But in this combination it’s brilliant. New to me on this last trip, and a freebie while I waited for my food, were the homemade tortilla chips and side of pico de gallo.

Service is incredibly friendly. The daughter of the owning family knows me by name and warmly greets me even though my visits grew incredibly rare for one sad year. With a permanent location, table service has been added and the waiters were very friendly and attentive – even though I got my food to go!

The only negative is that the food is incredibly addictive! But given these prices frequent visits can be had on even this grad student’s budget. Malena’s deserves to become a Tampa institution – one which I recommend you wholeheartedly embrace today!

Malena’s

2320 E. Fletcher Ave.

Tampa, FL 33612

(813)-977-6808

Mon.-Thur. 9am-9pm

Fri.-Sat. 9am-10pm

Sun. 9am-8pm