It’s BAAAAACK…The Rotary Club of New Tampa and five other local Rotary Clubs (see below) will host the 10th annual Rotary PigFest on Saturday, February 22, noon-8 p.m. These local Rotary Clubs will be raising funds through fellowship and tasty food for local charities. The PigFest has morphed over the years from a small event exclusively for members of the New Tampa Rotary Club (which meets Fridays at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club) to a larger, more inclusive community event held at different venues in New Tampa.Continue reading
Scott Tellinghuisen (right) of Green House Mortgage watches as Anna Dutko and her daughter Priya close on a South Tampa home.
By Matt Wiley
Since 2009, the word mortgage has carried with it an almost negative connotation, especially considering the fact that defaults on home loans were among the leading causes of the recent recession — from which the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, as well as the rest of the country, continues to try to bounce back.Continue reading
The chips and pureed salsa at Vallarta’s are addictive.
By Gary Nager
For those of us who have lived and/or worked in and around Tampa the last 10-20 years, the name “Vallarta’s Restaurante Mexicana” is synonymous with delicious Mexican cuisine at very fair prices. The family-owned “chain” of Tampa-area restaurants started with its first location, on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace, in 1989 and today has successful restaurants under the Vallarta’s “umbrella” in Carrollwood, Town & Country, Land O’Lakes and in the Wesley Chapel Village Market off S.R. 54 at Bruce B. Downs Blvd.
But, the newest link in the Vallarta’s chain is probably the most ambitious for my buddy Fabian, who also owns the Wesley Chapel location. A little more than a month ago, my friend Fabian opened his newest Vallarta’s in City Plaza at Tampa Palms, in the space most recently occupied by Ciccio’s Lodge, although this prime location next to Publix also has been The Lime, Winners Grill and the Boston Cooker.
The interior of the new Vallarta’s in Tampa Palms is spacious and casually elegant.
In other words, it may seem like a great location, but some of the others may have not been able to maintain their respective successes in the space because they couldn’t offer what Vallarta’s has been able to do to not only survive, but to thrive at all of its locations — offer the best possible value for your money. That means you shouldn’t bet against this popular Mexican restaurant ending up a long-term winner in Tampa Palms, too.
The newest Vallarta’s may also be the prettiest of the group, with a revamped tile bar with flat-screen TVs, full liquor, including frozen margaritas in a variety of flavors, premium tequilas and rums, ice cold Dos Equis, Modelo, Pacifico and other favorite import and domestic beers on draft and more.
Fajitas Vallarta
And of course, most folks start their meal with Vallarta’s signature (and addictive) puréed salsa and homemade tortilla chips. I also can recommend the lighter-than-most cheese dip, the spicy Mexican chicken soup, huge nachos supreme and fresh pico de .
Lunch combos are hugely popular at Vallarta’s, and cost only $5-$8, with only the steak or chicken fajitas lunch costing that much. Whether you like tacos, enchiladas, chalupas, chile rellenos, burritos, quesadillas or even huevos Rancheros (ranch-style eggs), you can enjoy jany combination of those items for as little as a fast food lunch Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
But, even at lunch (and certainly for dinner), I still prefer Vallarta’s more upscale steak, chicken and pork dishes. The carnitas (pork tips) are delicious and tender and you can even add red or green sauce.
This veggie quesadilla is overstuffed with fresh veggies and cheese.
The fajitas always come out sizzling and I usually enjoy a combination of beef (sliced flank steak) and chicken, although new sales and marketing assistant Antwon Gildon also raved about his fajitas Vallarta, which adds sizzling shrimp to the combo. And, if I could eat the shrimp, I would definitely try the ultimate fajita combo at Vallarta’s (certainly big enough for two), the Parrillada, which combines beef, chicken, pork, chorizo sausage and shrimp fajitas, with pico de gallo and all the sides.
But, I also love Vallarta’s ribeye steak choices, including the nicely spicy steak a la Mexicana, which is grilled with fresh jalapeños, tomatoes and onions and is my new favorite entrée at Vallarta’s, the batter-dipped steak Milanesas (although I don’t need the nacho cheese dipping sauce that comes with it), and the Vallarta’s special, which is like the steak Mexicana, without the jalapeños.
Steak a la Mexicana
Vegetarians also have to be impressed with Valllarta’s vegetarian menu, which includes veggie fajitas, potato and bean burritos and a unique vegetarian combo — a burrito with squash, tomatoes, onions and jalapeños, plus one cheese enchilada, served with rice and beans.
And yes, Vallarta’s has an outstanding kids menu, with everything from hamburgers and hot dogs to tacos and enchiladas and all costing just $4.50, including a drink, for kids 12 and under. There’s even churros (like the ones sold at fairs, only better), fried ice cream and flan for dessert.
Vallarta’s (16023 Tampa Palms Blvd.) is open every day for lunch and dinner. Happy hour is every day, 2 p.m.-7 p.m. For more info, call 978-3761, visit VallartasTampa.com or see the ad on page 61 for great coupon specials. For Wesley Chapel, call 907-5161.
The Tampa Police Department (TPD) is urging New Tampa residents to be cautious and on the lookout for suspicious behavior in parking lots, following a series of car burglaries.Continue reading
Just more than a month after her mysterious death, it has been determined that Donna Sheppard, the wife of former Freedom High principal David Sheppard, committed suicide.Continue reading
