Mild Bill's Profile
New in Tarpon Springs?
My first two visits at Mykonos, like 8 years ago, were not good... The octopus was slimy, and a couple other things were blah...
So I frequented Costa's and most all of the other places in Tarpon...
But a couple years ago I tried Mykonos again and it's been spectacular... My last few Tarpon meals have been there... I imagine they've been good all along, with me catching them on a couple funky days... Damn...
Things I get at both places:
Mixed Grilled Seafood Feast...
Saganaki (flaming melty cheese)...
Spanokopita (spinach pie) Really 'Chard' I think...
Greek Salad with anchovies and potato salad (love Costa's tater salad)
Dolmas (stuffed grape leaves) with Avgolemono sauce...
Gyros & Gyro Platter...
These things have been great at both places, with the nod to Mykonos on the grilled seafood because I taste more grill...
New in Tarpon Springs?
Susan, I have no idea what it feels like to be offended... It's never happened... I was DEfending, is all... And sorry if I responded too strongly, I forgot what I said...
My wife would eat every meal at home for the rest of her life if she could, with either me or her mother cooking---- that's how sensitive she is to restaurant yuckyness on even the smallest level... If she smells cooking oil, we turn around and go somewhere else... We've been going to Costa's for about 15 years and the subject of cleanliness or freshness has never come up...
I have been behind the scenes there on a couple occasions and haven't seen roaches where I 'might' have expected to...
My work sometimes takes me behind the scenes in restaurants and all other types of businesses... So when you came out of nowhere and declared 'don't go to Costa's, it's dirty', (without any details) I had to break out the fire extinguisher...
♥ No harm...
Best garlic wings in tampa
No biggee bro... I knew it wasn't what you were braggin' on...
Best garlic wings in tampa
Not worth starting a Patty Melt thread... LOL.. But I don't think the real cook was there when I was... About 3:30 on Sunday...
I went in for the Patty Melt, ordered it medium rare with well-done fries, and it arrived well-done, grey & dry...
The reason I got in the habit of ordering things rare and medium rare when I was younger was because mines was BIGGER than those 'well-done' fellas'...
So the supposed '1/2lb 100% Angus burger' didn't quite cover the bread, with one half containing most of the meat and the other with a bite or two...After a few bites I realized, inconceivably, that they forgot to add the grilled onions 'ON A PATTY MELT!' but after I looked under the bread I saw a few diced cubes of onion... Whoa!
Please don't 'coarsely dice' onions for a Patty Melt!
Slice them pole to pole so they'll maintain a presence, tangle-up, and hang on!
Or fall off, I don't care! I don't mind a messy Patty Melt!
I waved the waitress over and in a sincerely helpful spirit that I hoped would make its' way into the kitchen assured her that I wasn't upset or making a big complaint, but explained that; "when someone orders a Patty Melt, they do it because they love sweet sauteed onions, and when someone says medium rare, they anticipate a pink-in-the-middle, drippy, juicy, burger ---- 'but look at this' ---- this has no onions I could detect with my mouth, and is an over-cooked hockey puck ---- not to mention it's very small and there are almost no fries with it... Please bring me a Cuban Sandwich, extra cheese, pressed well, because I'm gonna finish this children's platter in 5 seconds and I'll still be hungry"...
I tried to be nice, authentically, and she SAW what I was talking about so I don't believed she thought I was a butthead...
The Cuban was much better, and came with double the fries... A proper portion...
A fairly heavy sandwich, warmed thru and juicy... Very good...
Generic meats I imagine so it wouldn't compete with a Wright's Deli Cuban, but it was respectable... $8.00...
I had two Amber Bocks as well, and at the end, it was 'all' on my bill... (She thought I was a butthead)
Damn... $30.00 including tip...
I should have sent back the Patty Melt...
I should have put that thirty in my gas tank!
Authentic Chicago Italian Beef Sandwhiches in Tampa?
Not Chicago, but Italian... You've been to Mazzaro's in St. Pete?
How to cook "Sliced Pork Shoulder" / Pork Shoulder Arm Steak
Also known as Pork Butt Steaks.... They're spectacular, and fast... No long cooking necessary...
Season with garlic salt, black pepper, and some oregano--- and toss on a blazing hot grill to crust-up, 4-5 minutes per side... Then let rest for a few... Lil' squeeze of lemon at the table...
Or cook in a big, HOT cast iron skillet.... Or broil HOT... Just cook them thru.... Tender and juicy...
One of my favorite cuts of meat!
Best garlic wings in tampa
Brother Glutton4Grub's rec for Dagwood's Garlic wings was right on!
Got in there today and really enjoyed them... Next visit, the Patty Melt...
Best Chicken Wings in Tampa Bay
Great to know about Dagwood's... I pass it like, every day...
When I'm stuck at a red light at that intersection, by the stinky water treatment facility, I love to mime 'wasn't me!' to the driver next to me...
Maybe I'll grab some wings there tomorrow...
We have talked about Anthony's tho---- and I agree with you... Many of us do...
Awesome!
****************
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza has wings that are non-traditional, but incredible.
By slpreston on Jun 14, 2011 06:40 AM
re: slpreston
I was there a few months ago and thought the wings were a little over-seasoned, or seasoned for too long----- but I went back with the wife a couple weeks ago for pizza and wings and both blew our minds.... My God the wings were so good... Piled high, crusty burnt in spots, herbylicious, and with that pyroclastic flow of sweet onions heaped on top and falling down the sides... Oven fresh focaccia wedges...
Our Pizza was 'Extra cheese, Anchovies, and Arugula'...Wow!!!
Service was impeccable..
By Mild Bill on Jul 29, 2011 08:26 AM
Best Chicken Wings in Tampa Bay
DITTO to everything you said!
McDivot's is the place on Countryway... Very good...
I like Hooters too---- and to tell you the truth, that's similar to how The Cop Shop's tasted...
Cheers, G!
Sauce for Prosciutto Wrapped Pork Tenderloin??
There IS no fat in a pork tenderloin---- and it cooks fast... I was going in the other direction...
A seasoned herbed compound butter, or a hollandaise drizzle...
Best Chicken Wings in Tampa Bay
Garlic wings were big, tasty, fresh, and cooked well...
Took 35 minutes to get to the table which had my left eye and lip twitchin' towards the end, but they were worth the wait...
Even more so after splashing on some Habanero hot sauce that wasn't too hot...
Look at it!
Isn't it adorable?
That one baby container of Blue Cheese for a plate of 20 big wings that already cost $17.00?!
Of course extras are .70 each---- I needed three...
$25.00 lunch including $3.00 tip... A little crazy...
Not just here---- wings are getting expensive everywhere...
They're only $1.50 a pound in the supermarkets, God knows why 'one wing section' should be that close to a dollar...
From now on I'll 'try' wings rather than feast... 10 or so...
Very good wingies tho!
And nice place...
Makes me want to start playing pool again!
And a big thumbs-up on the damn-fine patriotic Wet Naps!
Best Chicken Wings in Tampa Bay
I'll be passing by The Cop Shop tomorrow afternoon...
I've driven by 65,000 times but never stopped in ----- but tomorrow I'll go get some wings...
Donuts from tube of biscuit dough - any good?
Like a sticky bun but with orange marmalade?
Wow, I dig!!
Korean Taco Truck on Hillsborough Ave?
Yeah, I did a double-take the other day when I saw Da-Kine there!
Korean Taco Truck on Hillsborough Ave?
I didn't stop----- I wanted to---- but I saw them today in front of the Kim Brothers Asian Market on Hillsborough, close to Dale Mabry...
Korean Taco Truck on Hillsborough Ave?
Wow, that's walkin' distance for me!
I'll take a look as I head out... Good eyeball!
You, not them... I don't know what's on their menu...
Tavares Area Buffet
In the areas I cruise, which is Tampa, Brandon, etc, most all the other home-style buffets I've been to are not quite as good as Golden Corral...
Their steaks are very tasty, and can be excellent if you get a good piece...
Sauteed onions and big ol' mushrooms! Liver & Onions!
The fried chicken is very good... Good Mashed Taters... Good crab salad on the cold bar...
Desserts like crazy, with the banana pudding being my mega-favorite...
It's a scene man... Most Chowhounds won't admit to knowing the place exists... LOL...
Tampa - Hidden Gems?
As a roast pork maniac I totally agree... Pop in to Cuban Delight Cafe on 49th Street in St Pete... It's a great little family owned Cuban restaurant and they make two Cuban Sandwiches... One is regular, and good---- but the other is the Cuban Grande, which is both a Cuban Sandwich AND a Roast Pork Sandwich... LOL...
I loved it, even though, on the day I went the roast pork's flavor intensity could have been brought up a notch or two... I told myself next time I'll ask for a little cup of Mojo on the side... The folks running the place and working there couldn't have been nicer! The pork was soft and juicy at least...
http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/30/341443/restaurant/Tampa-Bay/Kenneth-City/Cuban-Delight-Cafe-St-Petersburg
I can't believe the photos I took when I was there are not on my computer anymore!
-----
Cuban Delight Cafe
2950 49th St N, Saint Petersburg, FL 33710
Tampa - Hidden Gems?
I've mentioned Cubans at La Caridad before, and although I've had a few good ones from there, as well as a few el cheapo skimpy A$$ ones, even the good ones aren't up there as far as I'm concerned... None of the places that try to get you a Cuban for under $5.00 will be in the running... They're all using crappy ham, crappy cheese, crappy everything, and as little of it as possible... That's 99.7% of all Cubans in Tampa... It's simply isn't supposed to be an expensive sandwich, and neighborhood folk would reject it otherwise...
Every single component of a Cuban sandwich has to be premium & carefully selected for it to ring all the bells...
For that you have to go to a specialty sandwich shop that uses all Boar's Head or something comparable---- is fairly generous---- and charges $8.00-$9.00 for it...
So far the most perfect Cuban Sandwich experience has been at Wright's on Dale Mabry...
'A Cuban sandwich please, extra cheese, no lettuce or tomato, pressed well' --- as you stick a buck or two in the jar...
Look at this piece of crap from 'Andy's on the Bay' in Oldsmar...
The ham is that blended baloney-like ham you get at the dollar store...
Sorry Andy's---- I would have preferred to have been impressed...
Flanken Style Short ribs
Pete K, I wonder how that recipe would be using boneless country style pork ribs... Have you ever tried it on anything else?
Also, Flanken ribs are insane just sprinkled with salt, or garlic salt, and thrown on the grill...
It's a BIG item in Argentina where I have family an visit every so often...
A celebration of juicy beef flavor!
Same with outside skirt...
Three Days In Tampa!! Help?!?
If you want to taste how good 'Caldo Gallego' soup can be, make sure you order that...
If you're not familiar, it's a creamy, beany, garlicky soup with some chopped collard greens, cooked with pork shank or feets, which puts the silky texture over the edge...
I love their roast pork... The only thing I've ever ordered that I didn't care for was the fried King Mackerel chunks... I thought they were WAY dry... But otherwise most everything has been exceptional...
Right around the corner from Arco Iris is Mi Pueblo--- a friendly, non-judgmental, 'neighborhood' cafeteria style restaurant that serves Latin food, but more towards Puerto Rican... Awesome!
It's all out in front of you---- like a candy store...
Three Days In Tampa!! Help?!?
So you're here now?
I too, love Vaca Frita ---- but when I want that I go to Las Margaritas on Hillsborough Ave. near Dale Mabry Highway...
All these years I really should have been trying to find other places that have it on the menu...
Las Margaritas is a small family owned Cuban Restaurant that's been there forever...
Arco Iris on Columbus is my favorite go-to Cuban... Great stuff...
Where to get wild game in the Tampa area?
For years I've been meaning to call, and I had the number in my phone... I see their truck every so often in my travels around Tampa... I believe the logo used to read 'Eddie's Exotic Meats', but the past few times it said 'Eddie's Duck & Poultry'... 813-351-8387
You might give them a call...
Four things I've been wanting to cook with are Pheasant, Guinea Fowl, Rabbit, and Goose--- but I don't dig their supermarket or mail order prices...
Ah, I'm really tired... I see you asked about restaurants...
That's all I got... ;-)
Garlic Bologna
When I was buying Bologna I'd look for good Garlic Bologna, but since I've been going to the Italian markets and buying Daniele Mortadella sliced real thin, I haven't thought about bologna since... It's full flavor and garlicky, along with containing the occasional sliced pistachio or peppercorn... It's what I always hoped the garlic bologna would taste like... I get it at Cacciatore Brothers in Tampa... About $5.00 a pound...
Who has the best burger in Tampa/St Pete/Clearwater
CJ's Bar-B-Skew in Carrollwood in Tampa does a really really good burger, and on Wednesdays they do 'Burger Wednesday' where you can get a burger with whatever toppings you want for $7.49, and that includes a second 1/2 pound wood-fire grilled prime burger patty...
Their potato chips are thick, crunchy, potatoey, and home made...
Almost all the sides are good to great...
So far, it's my favorite burger in the area... A juicy medium rare burger cooked on that wood fire tastes great... I'm doing a low carb diet right now, but I'm still going tomorrow... I'll be getting a double burger with cheese, bacon, and grilled onions---with no bread, and a salad...
http://cjsbarbskew.com/#menu
Food porn up ahead!
EL MOFONGAZO! Near Hanley and Hillsborough Ave.
That's a word that needs to be capitalized baby!
I've never seen it before yesterday, and it's right around the corner, across the street from Cacciatore's Italian Market at Hanley Road & Paula Drive...
I needed stamps--- I dropped off some mail at the post office near Cacciatore's, and as I was heading back out to Hanley, around 3PM, I looked to my right and saw this bright yellow banner sign; EL MOFONGAZO!
I've been falling in love with Puerto Rican food the past few years, and I've become a regular at a couple other local spots that I'll want to mention down the road...
After confirming that I had my camera with me, I swung around just to get a photo of the store-front to send to a few Chowbuds who, like me, love discovering these small family owned restaurants, ethnic or otherwise, that spice & season-up the Tampa area itself as far as I'm concerned...
My excitement was turbocharged when I saw the sign also said 'LA CASA DEL JIBARITO SANDWICH'...
CFishman turned me on to the Jibarito a year or two ago at Mi Pueblo off of Columbus on Lincoln... It's a sandwich, but there is no bread... I know!
They press & flatten a couple unripe Plantains a lil' thicker than a tortilla and toss them on a hot griddle to cook, crisp, and color-up golden----then they're used as the bread, top and bottom...
I've only had it as a steak sandwich, but it's usually offered with most of the other meat or seafood options... Important words of advice that I'm simply passing on---- 'make sure you get the garlic sauce'!
I'll post a photo I have of a Jibarito from Mi Pueblo...
So as I'm getting ready for my photo drive-by, intending to pause for just a second to take the photo, I figured 'WTH, I got time' and I pulled in to a parking spot to quickly grab a to-go menu if they had one... I got some warm hellos as I entered from a gentleman and a young waitress.
As a natural response to their hospitality I sat for a minute, halfway in the chair next to the door to look at the menu and to ask how long they've been there... One month to the day! Still, I'm surprised I haven't seen them sooner... Maybe they just got their banner sign?
I eat when I'm no longer full, not when I'm hungry... They say you should eat smaller meals so that you never let yourself get too hungry---- that's why I'll often have two lunches spaced a couple hours apart...
I saw roast pork, rice w/gandules, and tostones for $6.95... Usually tostones are an extra $4.00----- and it's impossible for $6.95 to ever spoil dinner...
I almost always take a Spanish restaurant for a test-ride by checking out their roast pork... This was actually listed as roast pork with onions, and it was, simply that... Don't get me wrong, the pork was tender, moist, and tasted good... I may have expected more mojo, and maybe even a more intense flavor, but when I got into my groove I realized I wouldn't have changed a thing...
Rice and beans as a side dish, or in this case arroz con gandules (pigeon peas) never really excites me unless the main dish is very juicy or saucy, then I'm in heaven... Until very recently when I first took some of that garlic sauce and mixed it in... Now I love the beans & rice no matter what...
Same with tostones! Now I get it!
I think that garlic condiment has the DNA necessary to help clone a Unicorn...
I put some roast pork and onions onto a garlicky tostone and I was in heaven...
I have never eaten a full plate of tostones in my life... I usually take them to go, then forget about them in the van for a few days... These were thin and crispy, not pasty and dry...
It really makes me wanna get in there for a Jibarito!
Such a simple thing was so delicious!
I told the people that I never had an Alcapurria before, and ordered one for like $2.00... Wonderful!
Like a rustic croquette... Mashed plantain(?) and root veg masa, filled with chopped pork meat & porky bits, sofrito, herbs, peppers and other things... From the outside I had no idea what to expect...
After I was in full groove, a woman, the owner, came out of the kitchen and asked how I liked the food. She explained that her brother and granddaughter were here helping her out, and I explained why I was taking pictures...
In what I welcomed as a warm gesture--- as if she just wanted to get off her feet for a few minutes, she sat with me at my table. Some might feel that's unprofessional, but it was late in the afternoon and I was the only one in there, probably a lil' too happy & interactive. Me, not her...
She wouldn't let me take her pic, saying she looked a mess--- but I told her; 'nah, you look like a cook, you look beautiful'... With a grin she mumbled over her shoulder to her family; 'he told me I look like a cook!'...
I was very relaxed and at home... It felt like one of my wife's Argentinean aunts handing me a plate of food and a sitting at the table... I told her soon we'll get a nice family photo, and she said OK...
She explained how most places charge extra for the tostones, but they decided to include them, to help keep prices down, because people were having a tough time these days...
Please, pop in there and order some food... It's their first month or so and I bet hardly anybody knows they're there---- it's gotta be rough... I can't wait to try their other items... It's a full menu...
Tell them 'el gordito con la camara grande' sent you...
(The fat guy with the big camera)
El Mofongazo Restaurant
5502 Hanley Road, Suite 106
Tampa, Florida 33634
813.280.2929
Although the website doesn't seem to be functional:
www.elmofongazotampa.com
I'd scan the to-go menu if I could find it...
I'll have to go back for another one...
