Strachans Homemade Ice Cream & The Only 8 Phenomenon

In the pursuit of further goodies, Jackie, Amy and I wound our way from San Antonio through Pasco and down 19 to Palm Harbor and one of Amy’s personal favorites. Strachan’s offers a wide variety of ice creams, pies, cake and an amazing display of fudge. You’ll have a difficult time picking one treat. Bill and Susan Strachan have made desserts their sole passion since 1999. A long trek through the wilds of corporate America led to them embracing their dream – an ice cream store - but not just any ice cream. They attended class after class, but still dissatisfied, they developed their own special recipe. Their frozen custard is, in fact, so good that the Strachan’s charge $7,500 to franchise the recipe. (Thanks for the research Amy!) They offer classes so that you too, can, for a price, learn their techniques for cakes, pies, and fudge ($1,000). Exact recipes are extra ($4,000 extra). I think the lesson here is: let the Strachans and their trained dairy technicians do the work.

Upon arrival, we were immediately plied with free samples of vanilla custard and “Yum-Yum” sauce. The sauce was a spectacular chocolate caramel concoction, but Amy and Jackie decided on “Only 8” frozen yogurt and I got a root beer slush float. The float was huge and the root beer was very strong and syrupy. I should have mixed the custard in, but it was so terrific I ate it by itself. The whole thing was just too big – what a complaint, huh? No float could be as good as Carl’s of Fredericksburg, Va fame. The custard was amazing – I’ll go that route next time.
Onto to “Only 8:” the true story here. Who would have thought a mixture of water, fructose, whey, whey protein concentrate, maltodextrin, natural flavoring, calcium, and yogurt cultures could be good? It is! “Only 8” is an awkward handle perhaps, but it is a terrific thing. It’s an all natural frozen yogurt boasting only 8 calories per ounce. Hence, the name – eight ingredients, eight calories - you get it. Each retailer offers different flavors, and a small portion is very satisfying. I doubt many readers of this publication are dieting, but this stuff is a delicious way to save your calories for other foods. Other locations which offer "Only 8" are difficult to find without a web store locator, but we do have a Hillsborough spot. Frankly, Jackie B. is addicted to this stuff. Since it is still a rather new product, there are no “Only 8” Addicts Anonymous groups for her. We here at Adventures in Food are offering all the support we can.

Pinellas County
N.W. Corner of Alt. 19 & Tampa Rd.
105 Palm Harbor Blvd.
Palm Harbor, Fl 34683
727-781-0997
www.strachansdesserts.com
:-)

Other locations for “Only 8”:
Hillsborough County
Britan's
3861 Northdale Blvd.,
Tampa, FL 33624
http://www.britans.com/yogurt.htm
www.only8frozenyogurt.com

4 1/2 forks!


Happy people!

Pancho’s Villa

I love San Antonio. It’s a smaller than small town out in East Pasco. There’s a Catholic school, an antique shop, a lawyer, an accountant, a deli, the obligatory small town water tower and Pancho’s Villa. Amy, Jackie B. and I were going to the antique store and had to resist beautiful smells wafting from somewhere nearby. After several hours of trying on vintage hats at Park Place, we inquired of the owner about eating arrangements and she warmly recommended Pancho’s Villa. She said that people came from as far as Tampa because of those smells. Bad sombreros and ‘Mexican' blankets hang from the walls, but a life size cardboard John Wayne upgrades the interior decorating significantly.

I ordered the tamale, Jackie B. got the chimichanga (a deep-fried burrito, can it get better?), and Amy was very happy with her guacamole salad. My favorite part - as soon as you position your bottom in the seat, chips and salsa miraculously appear! The selection is large and the prices good. For family members with picky palates there are burgers and spaghetti, but most of the fare seems pretty traditional. My tamale was wrapped in masa dough and steamed in a corn husk. The food was plentiful and yummy. An excellent lunch bracing us for a day of…more eating. And shopping, of course.

Four Forks!

Pasco County
32804 Pennsylvania Ave.
San Antonio, FL 33576
352-588-3037
Lunch - :-)
Dinner - $

Nouvelle Cuisine

Chef Jan Kinds and his wife, Isabelle Roos have created a wonderful fusion of French and Belgian cooking. Chef Jan Kinds grew up in his family’s restaurant in his native Belgian town of Bruges. “Nouvelle cuisine” is an approach to cooking and food presentation used in French cuisine. Unlike haute cuisine, nouvelle cuisine is lighter, more delicate, without the heavy sauces and long-cooked vegetables. There is an increased emphasis on presentation.

The food was light, fresh and delectable. Traditional offerings such as escargot and frog legs tempt the adventurous, but Jackie P. and I settled for a delicate chicken crepe as a starter. Entrees come with soup or salad, and my broccoli soup was delicious. Also, it was unusual in that it was not cream based, but built on a flavorful chicken stock. The selection of entrees is ample but limited for those with more pedestrian taste. My chicken’s green peppercorn sauce contrasted with the delicate simplicity of perfectly cooked snap peas. The carrots were my favorite - delicate, sweet with a hint of nutmeg or cinnamon? The ‘Gratin Dauphinois’ is our potatoes ‘au gratin’ but nothing like the box stuff. It was amazing - a crunchy, crumbly crust topped a multitude of creamy potato layers below.

Eating with Jackie is great because it always involves desserts. Mascarpone white chocolate cheesecake topped with blackberries was heaven on a plate. The sweetness of the white chocolate did not overpower the thick, creamy cheesecake. Creamy clouds of cheesecake simply melted in my mouth. Jackie and I split a piece of cheesecake, but we agreed that we could probably have demolished a whole slice a piece. I kept eating and eating and eating, but the food was all so light that I never felt unhealthily full. I only regret that I could not fit in the garlic soup with gruyere cheese. I was told it was to die for.

The atmosphere was traditional, not trendy, but pleasant and quiet. It is not inexpensive, but quality is definitely there. Dinner reservations are recommended. If you are looking for a less expensive alternative, try lunch!

Five Forks!

Hernando County
10531 Spring Hill Dr
Spring Hill, FL 34608
Just west of the intersection of Mariner and Spring Hill Dr.
352-686-6860
http://thenouvellecuisine.com/
Dinner - $$-$$$

Orchids Thai

One of Pasco’s hundreds of homely strip malls conceals the charming and elegant Orchids’ Thai. ‘Tis true that the plain often conceals the beautiful. Gino and I landed at Orchids after trying and failing to gain sustenance at not one, but two sushi establishments. Kazu’s was mysteriously closed and we walked in Hiro’s open door only to realize that the new restaurant actually wasn’t quite finished yet. (Both future posts.)

The food is fast, cheap and delicious. Usually those three adjectives don’t go with ‘charming and elegant’, but Orchids is a unique blend. Inside is a pleasing blend of beauty, cleanliness and peaceful comfort. Orchids and other blooms surround diners and booths are cushioned with silk pillows.

You won't be forced to overstay your hour lunch break, but it does fill as noon time progresses. $5.95 is the going price for a mid day meal and most entrees come with a salad with a peanut dressing and a delicious little cilantro noodle soup. The Thai iced tea is terrific. I could live on that stuff, but then I’d be as caffeine-addled as Rachael Ray after a midnight Dunkin Donuts run. The waitress said that Thai iced tea starts with a special Thai tea blend. This is followed by an insane amount of sugar and then topped with a generous amount of half and half. Healthy? Probably not. Do I care? Uh…no.

I am a neophyte in the realm of Thai cuisine, but I am definitely an enthusiast. The green curry is my favorite, and I’m having a hard time advancing to other menu items. The coolness of the coconut milk contrasts perfectly with the sinus-clearing curry in the sauce. The chicken is tender, the vegetables are crunchy, and jasmine rice finishes a symphony of flavors. Green curry (Thai: แกงเขียวหวาน) is a central Thai dish made with fresh green chillies, flavored with Thai basil, and chicken or fish meatballs. This dish is one of the spiciest of Thai curries, but still not too hot in my opinion. I tried one of the noodle dishes, ‘Pad see ew’ (Thai: ผัดซีอิ๊ว) – which are noodles stir-fried with see ew dum (thick soy sauce) and nahm plah (fish sauce) and pork or chicken. Also, quite good. With great addition to detail, each entrée is adorned with an orchid or a carrot butterfly. Gino has had the Pad Thai and Gino has pronounced it good. Pad Thai (Thai: ผัดไท) is rice noodles pan fried with fish sauce, sugar, lime juice or tamarind pulp, chopped peanuts, and egg combined with chicken, seafood, and tofu. Yum!

This restaurant also addresses the pressing question – how many paddling wooden elephants can fit in a two foot canoe? (The answer is seven.) Be sure to check out this little gem!

Five forks!

Pasco County
8647 Regency Park Blvd
Port Richey, FL 34668
(727) 844-3125
Lunch - :-)
Dinner - $
http://www.orchidsthairestaurant.com/

Our Humble Rating System

Establishments will receive between 1 and 5 forks based on quality, quantity, and value of the meal. Of course, atmosphere and other considerations will be evaluated as well.

Cost is another important factor.

:-) = lots of options under or around $5
$ = up to $10
$$ = between $10 and $20
If I happen to find myself trapped in a place that charges more than this, my food had better do a song and dance.

Bagel Queen – True Carb Royalty

The large New Yorker behind the counter impatiently rolled his eyes at our indecision. His supply of bagels was low due to the late hour (they are only open until 1:00 p.m., at least on Sat.) but still we were unable to immediately pick our prize. There were so many options: bagels, both sweet and savory, meaty breakfast sandwiches, soft pretzels and more. Amy quickly settled on the pretzel, but then our funding issues (they only take cash) caused even further consternation on the part of the owner. The poor man – on top of our indecision, I paid entirely in change (and had to borrow 50c from Jackie).
Two dollars and thirty some cents will buy true delight here. After several minutes, Jackie decided on a plain bagel with strawberry cream cheese. The bagels were soft and warm and generously smeared with the rich Philadelphian soft spread. The strawberry’s natural sweetness contrasted beautifully with the tang of the cream cheese and pieces of fruit added even more flavor. My ‘everything’ bagel was by far the best I had ever had. Scallion cream cheese was generously applied and simply delicious.

I have lived within 10 min. of the Bagel Queen for as long as it has existed. It is easy to miss, snuggled between a couple of dollar generals in the Sweetbay strip store on Little Rd. The inside is simple and unadorned, with a few old tables and chairs where you can enjoy your treat. Coffee is self-serve and refillable on demand. I am very sorry that I did not discover this place sooner. In fact it was Jackie B. of Tampa who stumbled across this establishment via the great ‘Interweb’. She read reviews that named these bagels some of the best anywhere, and the reviews I have found call the Queen, ‘an addictive little hole in the wall.’ Jackie had made it her personal quest to get me to take her there. All three of us were glad she did.

The owner (the Bagel King?) told a woman that he is in the shop baking every morning at 4 a.m. That kind of devotion to carbohydrates makes me want to stand up and salute!

Five forks!

Pasco County
9037 Little Rd
New Port Richey, FL 34654
(727) 863-2822
:-)

Intro to the Mission

Sometimes it seems like authenticity and individuality have been lost among the conformity and sterility of modern life, no where more than in the chain restaurant. In a world where convenience and brand names reign supreme, there still stands a vestige of the real America. Family owned eating establishments are the heart and soul of our country. Family, tradition and individual passion will fuel this collection of stories.

Being the self-sacrificing creature that I am, I have taken it upon myself, gentle reader, to eat everything 'real' in the four county area. Unfortunately, like so many other things in life, the Tampa Bay Area Regional Culinary Travel Authority was instituted, but the funding dollars were vetoed somewhere along the way. We soldier on.

I am disposed to try just about everything and I have the pleasure of counting many foodies among my friends, so you will have the advantage of sharing the perspectives and suggestions of all. And you, dear friends, being the renowned scholars, playwrights, and culinary aficionados that you are, please feel free to contribute your thoughts as well. So, I will be looking for all your submissions. Greg, that 50s diner in Holiday would be a great addition in your copious amounts of spare time.