Month: January 2014

By Gary Nager

To update an item that appeared in our last issue, the new Ciccio’s Cali (17004 Palm Pointe Blvd.; 975-1222) has opened in the former World of Beer location in the Shopees at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms (behind Olive Garden). Our office sampled a few delicious items at the new Ciccio’s since it opened in December and I have to say that although there are some menu items I miss at the new Ciccio’s, the brick-oven pizzas are crisper and better, the Cali bowls and stir-fry entrées (photo below) and grilled wrap sandwiches are still awesome.

Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel (322-3441) has opened, although right now, the new dealership (which is owned by the same group that owns the Wesley Chapel Hyundai and Mazda dealerships next door) is operating out of a trailer. Sales consultant Bobby Page says that Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel’s building will open in about a year.

The Wesley Chapel Village Market (S.R. 54 at BBD) will soon be home to Stonemill Artisan Bakery & Desserts. The shop, which should be open next to Vallarta’s and Woody’s Pizza & Wings within a couple of weeks as you receive this issue, is where you can expect to find gelato, ice cream, frozen yogurt, French pastries, authentic artisan breads, great coffee and more. We’ll keep you posted.

A&A Boutique, which was owned by young sisters Amber & Allie Malott in the same plaza as The Hungry Greek and the new D’Alessio’s Ristorante on BBD in Wesley Chapel (across from the new Florida Hospital WC), has closed. The Malott twins are now only selling their original fashion designs online at TwinCollections.com.

And finally, congratulations to my fellow Wesley Chapel Rotary Club member Ben Alexander, whose company, Balloon Distractions, will appear on the smash hit ABC-TV show “Shark Tank” on Friday, January 17, 8 p.m. Ben can’t talk about how it all turned out until after the show airs, but we’ll have the complete story in an upcoming issue and on our website, NTNeighborhoodNews.com.

For info about Balloon Distractions, visit BalloonDistractions.com or call (800) 645-2114

By Gary Nager

Even though it’s located “deep” inside the Meadow Pointe community (at 30004 County Line Rd.), I definitely think it’s worth a short drive (three easy miles from the Shops at Wiregrass mall and only two miles from Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.) to visit my friend Tarek at the decadent new Dolce Gelato & Crepes Café for mid-morning breakfast, lunch or after any meal.

Dolce, which opens every day at 9 a.m. and is open after dinner, too, has excellent desserts, including authentic Italian gelato, French crepes and Belgian waffles, plus bacon or ham, egg and cheese crepes for breakfast, a variety of Boar’s head fresh-pressed panini sandwiches for lunch, delicious coffee, tea and smoothies and more.

I’ve already sampled a pressed roast beef panini, Dolce’s “Carabanella” (caramel, banana and Nutella spread) crepe and the Butterfinger gelato-topped waffle (with chocolate topping) pictured here (right).

Please tell Tarek that the New Tampa Neighborhood News sent you. For more info, call 991-0350.

 

 

By Gary Nager

Although we told you in a recent issue that Wolf’s Den — Wesley Chapel’s Neighborhood Diner — was adding dinner hours and a full selection of BBQ favorites to its already impressive menu, Wolf’s Den (27606 S.R. 56) owner Roger Wolf has since decided to, “go back to doing what we do best — serving the best breakfast, brunch and lunch in Wesley Chapel at the best possible prices.”

And, if you’re like me (and obviously, a lot of you are, as Wolf’s Den was our readers’ second-favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel, and second favorite pizza and fourth favorite burger place in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel), you’re probably hoping that Roger will continue to serve some of his delicious dinner entrées (my favorite is his best-in-Wesley Chapel fried chicken) for lunch and takeout.

And, he’s doing just that. But now, Wolf’s Den is only open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. daily.

“We’re still packed every day for breakfast and lunch,” Roger says, noting that he currently has pumpkin and eggnog pancakes available for the holidays. For info, call 907-9124..