Daily Loaf

This is the time when all the spectacular new restaurants that have opened in the past year can shine and all of Tampa Bay can snub our collective noses at the poor economy. But only one worthy spot can win, and the race is close.

Two St. Pete spots — Diner 437 and Queenshead Eurobar — are in the lead, but there’s still plenty of time to shift victory in this close race to another restaurant. Time to mobilize and vote!

Is your favorite spot in the running? Here’s are the leaders in the race so far, with their current tallies: Read the rest of this entry »

Taylor went to China and all she brought back was this lousy podcast! We dissect her culinary travels, and discuss Brian’s review of Ocean Prime.

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Ocean Prime
3 and 3/4 Stars
2205 N. West Shore Blvd., Tampa, 813-490-5288

Several months ago, when I first heard that Ocean Prime was opening, I wondered if Tampa could handle another high-end steakhouse — a chain, in fact — during tough economic times. Hell, considering the massive representation steakhouses have in the Bay area, I’d ask the same question in good times. Considering the crowd on a Tuesday night in April, I guess I have my answer.

The place isn’t packed, but you wouldn’t know it from the loaded parking lot. The dining room is full, happy people are lounging around the exterior bar area and the restaurant feels like it’s hopping. As the night goes on, the long patio dining area overlooking a surprisingly pastoral retention pond on the border of the International Plaza parking lot starts to fill up. Maybe Tampa isn’t ready for more of the usual luxe steakhouse clones, but it certainly seems to have accepted Ocean Prime.

The tasty and capable food is part of that, but I doubt it’s the main draw. Read the rest of this entry »

This week, St. Pete Times restaurant critic Laura Reiley reviewed Ocean Prime, which had been open for just over two weeks. That just sucks.

I like Reiley quite a bit, although we’ve never managed to get together for that lunch we’ve emailed each other about (call me, Laura!). And no, I’m not accusing her of some sort of ethical malfeasance or critic faux pas. Let me explain. Read the rest of this entry »

What happened today, in the form of easy to absorb bullet points:

• Laura Reiley gets an early jump on Ocean Prime
• Go to any of the new restaurants that have opened recently? Let us know.
• Ethical foie gras? Looks like it.
• Free food at Five Guys — today only.
• Review of The Glenlivet 25 year-old Scotch whiskey.
• Five food trends for 2009.

In a decidedly “run, don’t walk” preview of Ocean Prime, the new seafood concept at International mall, Laura Reiley gushes about the service, the atmosphere and the food. Read her blogpost.

My review of their wine list.

We talked about these brand (and relatively) new places in the blog (L’Olivier, AquaKnox, several, Bin 27, Ocean Prime, and L’Olivier again) but who’s actually braved these joints while they get their feet wet? Were they ready for the big day, or just struggling to keep up? The kitchen a disaster, or primed and ready?

Comment — we desperately want a scouting report.

Obama was inagurated on Tuesday, and in the frenzy of media coverage you may have missed what’s really important — sustenance. No worries, we have the entire week distilled down to a mere few links. Just for you:

• Listen to the inaugural episode of Nosh Pit, CL’s new food and wine podcast.
• Brush up on Girl Scout Cookie gossip.
• Bourdain calls Alice Waters “very Khmer Rouge”.
• I call Alice Waters out for $500 dinners.
• Three new Tampa restaurants (and Cupcake Spot) are scheduled to open this weekend. Taylor already ate at one of them.
• Three words: waffle fry butts.
• Obama orders a medium-well cheeseburger. For. Shame.
• Chocolate and bacon cupcakes with peanut butter icing.
• Argentina kills our last bets hope for quality beef.
• USDA releases ineffectual, voluntary rules for the term “naturally raised”.
• Ingredient Basics: Garlic

A couple high-end restaurants are bucking trends by opening in the middle of the deepest economic slump in recent memory. Unsurprisingly, both are chains, albeit small ones. There’s also a cool cabaret and bistro kicking off in GaYbor this weekend. Here’s the rundown: Read the rest of this entry »