Month: July 2018

Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering Gets A New Chef!

So, how can one of my favorite local restaurants get even better when the husband-and-wife chefs who opened it — and still own it — hire a new chef?

That’s what has happened recently to my friends Jessica and Carl Meyers of Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering on S.R. 54 in Lutz, less than two miles west of the Tampa Premium Outlets. Jessica and Carl have brought in an authentic Italian chef, born and raised in Napoli (not Naples, FL), who has honed his skills in not only his native country, but also in Germany, Australia, England, Tampa and, most recently, his own place, which was called Manzoni’s, even though neither the chef’s first nor last name is Manzoni.

“Manzoni is-a the street-a I grew up on in-a Napoli,” says Chef Simeone (pronounced “Sih-me-oh-nay”) Chiacchio, who opened Manzoni’s in Tarpon Springs a few years ago, after working at some of the better Italian restaurants in South Tampa. “Manzoni’s was-a the first-a time I ever owned a restaurant, and I found out that I’d-a rather cook for-a someone else and not-a have-a to be the boss.”

That worked out perfectly for Jessica and Carl, who brought in Chef Sam (“or Simon,” says Simeone. “Sam is just-a little easier for-a some people.”) a little over a month ago and have enjoyed not only his “autentico” Neapolitan cuisine, but also his accent, his sense of humor and his ability to multi-task.

“I told him you’re like an octopus,” says Jessica. “Carl and I really admire his skills. He can cook anything and he’s already adding amazing new specials and slowly making changes to our existing menu. We’ll be rolling out our new menu soon.”

Carl, who has been to Italy many times, says he can tell Chef Simeone is authentic because, “he doesn’t let anything go to waste. He cuts up the leftover penne and spaghetti for his pasta fagioli (one of his new specials) and he saves all of the scraps of cut produce, like onions, garlic and more and makes stock to keep his chicken dishes moist.”

Carl also mentioned something I forgot to write down about the beans used in Chef Sam’s pasta fagioli, but all I can tell you is that it is the best I’ve had in the Tampa Bay area. A bowl of it is so big and hearty, it’s a meal unto itself, but don’t get too full to try Sam’s outstanding faggotini pasta, which may not have an appetizing name, but it’s a flavor I’ve never tasted in Italian food before. Faggotini is a pasta “purse,” stuffed with pecorino Romano cheese and pear. Each bite of these filling purses has just a hint of sweetness from the pear, a perfect complement to the salty cheese. But, these faggotini are lightly covered with just the right amount of a creamy, but still light, pink tomato sauce that expertly finishes off this unique pasta dish.

“Just-a don’t-a call it a ‘vodka sauce,’” Sam says. “There’s-a no vodka in it.”

New Entrée Specials, Too!

As soon as I saw the new specials board (both the pasta fagioli and faggotini are on it), I got really excited about what Sam’s bringing to the table (pun intended) at Little Italy’s, especially once Jessica and Carl also showed me Sam’s super-extensive menu from Manzoni’s.

Of the new entrées already sampled by yours truly, my surprise favorite was the chicken Vesuvio, which Sam can make for you with the chicken lightly breaded or unbreaded. The chicken surrounds ample, tender slices of eggplant and topped with fresh mozzarella and a light (but not pink), zesty tomato sauce.

My second favorite dish from the specials board was the Caprese chicken over pasta (I’m obviously a tomato/tomato sauce guy). Thick, tender (thanks to that homemade stock?) chicken breasts are topped with also-thick slices of delicious, fresh tomatoes, dense (but perfectly melted) slabs of fresh mozzarella in a thicker tomato sauce more reminiscent of Little Italy’s original sauce, topped with fresh basil. It was served over a helping of spaghetti that provided side dishes for two more meals for me after all that I left over during my visit.

The third new entrée I sampled was the chicken panna, which is served in a thinner-than-Alfredo creamy sauce with pancetta, peas and fresh mushrooms. Jessica said it was her favorite of the new specials and she almost didn’t let me steal even a bite from her (just kidding, Jess).

And of course, yes, you can still order anything from the restaurant’s existing menu, although you might want to ask your server to explain any tweaks Sam may have made to Little Italy’s locally famous lasagne, veal parmigiana (my personal favorite; more on that below), chicken piccata, calzones and huge, rectangular pizzas.

You might just recognize that server, by the way, as Jessica says that she is now going to sometimes work the floor as a server, especially on the weekends, because she really does want Little Italy’s thousands of loyal fans to have full explanations of every new dish and any tweaks Sam may have made to their favorite dishes when they visit.

“All I can say is that the guy is doing amazing things in that kitchen,” Jessica says, “so I want to explain to our customers what goes into making these dishes.”

Carl adds, “This restaurant and kitchen aren’t large enough to do true fine Italian dining. But, what we’re serving now is a step up from what we’ve been doing, without being a step up in price.”

Sam told me not to order the veal parmigiana until the next time I came in because Little Italy’s just started using a new meat purveyor, “and I-a want-a you to-a taste-a the good-a vitello (veal).” He says there will be osso buco (veal shanks on the bone) on the specials board soon and maybe even a steak special.

“Oh, and-a Gary, I know you’re-a not-a the only-a one who likes-a fresh veggies,” Sam says. “We’ll-a give you a choice-a of pasta or veggies with-a your (non-pasta) entrée, too.”

And of course, Sam can create just about anything you want for your next party. Catering has long been a big part of Little Italy’s success the past three years, and I don’t see that side of the business slowing down anytime soon. I guarantee you that a big tray of Little Italy’s lasagne would be the perfect addition to any 4th of July celebration.

And, of course, Little Italy’s still has a “Little Goombas” menu and recently added beer and wine. So, enjoy a delicious glass (or bottle) of delicious chianti, pino grigio or Grandma’s homemade sangria, or a Peroni or domestic beer and get to know the new Little Italy’s. It’ll be “molto delizioso.”

Little Italy’s (24436 S.R. 54, Lutz) is open for dinner only Tues.-Fri. and for lunch & dinner on Sat. & Sun. For info, call (813) 909-2122, or visit LittleItalyFamilyRestaurant.com.

Nibbles and Bytes: Bahama Breeze Opening Soon

A sign (see top photo on next page) on the building indicates that Bahama Breeze Island Grill, which is getting ready to open just east of Chuy’s Tex-Mex on the north side of S.R. 56, will open to the public on Monday, July 16. We’re trying to make sure we get an invite to the friends & family pre-opening, so look for a sneak peek on WCNT-tv before Bahama Breeze opens. Fresh seafood + live music one mile from where we live means Jannah and I will be frequenting Bahama Breeze…frequently.

•Also opening in July, next to Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt in the Shops at Wiregrass, is Nothing Bundt Cakes, which has been among the favorites at each of the last two Tastes of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. At our press time, those amazingly moist bundt cakes with perfectly creamy icing still seemed to be weeks from being made or sold at this location, but a spokesperson for the store said “definitely in July.”

If you’ve still never tried Nothing Bundt Cakes, visit the N. Dale Mabry or another location before this store opens and have a couple of samples and please tell them the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News sent you! You’ll be waiting with baited buttercream breath for Nothing Bundt Cakes to open here, too.

•Not enough for you? Pomodoro Pizza, which is opening in the space previously occupied by Kwan Ming Bistro in the plaza on S.R. 56 that also is home to Wolf’s Den, also is expected to open in early- to mid-July.

Pomodoro is the first local pizzeria to admit that it has New Jersey-style pizza — which I’ve tried to tell quite a few New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents over the years — is similar to, but slightly different (in most cases) from New York-style. I’ll let the Pomodoro owners give you their take on the differences, but new pizza is never a bad thing for me to try.

•And last, but not least, another newcomer to the same plaza as Mellow Mushroom on the north side of S.R. 56, across from the Tampa Premium Outlets, is Sweetea Café, which is still mostly a shell inside and doesn’t look like it could possibly be open before the end of July, but we’ll keep you posted.

We’ll also have updates on Earth Fare (which looks ready to go vertical), Mod Pizza (in the getting-much-closer-to-completion building next to Starbucks on S.R. 56, in front of Costco) and the three hotels set to open in the next next issue.

Have You Tried Bayscape Bistro?

I’m sure most residents of that community have heard that the restaurant at the Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club off Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa has changed hands again, following a $1.3-million investment by the Heritage Isles Community Development District (CDD) to revamp the club house and the restaurant that rarely has been much more than a place for hungry golfers to stop and have a sandwich and a cold beer.

No matter how nice the renovations may be, unless the CDD found the right operator for the restaurant — one that could attract people who don’t live in Heritage Isles to check it out — it was likely to fail again.

Well, not only is the new Bayscape Bistro & Bar at Heritage Isles significantly more attractive looking than anything else that has occupied the space before, some of you may recognize the name of the guy who owns and operates it — and who has provided a much more restaurant-like menu than any of his predecessors.

Edward Bujarski, who ran one of the first and most successful high school culinary arts programs in Hillsborough County at New Tampa’s Wharton High for 17 years, is genuinely excited to bring real, fresh food to Cross Creek Blvd. near Morris Bridge Rd. and to be able to hire some of his former students to work at Bayscape.

I first visited Bayscape few days before we went to press with this issue, but the Bayscape chef salad I started with combines greens, roasted chicken, mojo pork, cheddar and pepper jack cheeses, tomatoes, cucumbers and four crispy seasoned pieces of grilled toast that I assure you are better than any croutons you’ll have anywhere.

Look for more about Bujarski’s new venture in a future issue, but go check it out and tell the happy crew we sent you!

Bayscape Bistro & Bar (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.) is open every day for breakfast, lunch and dinner. For more info, call (813) 994-3445 or visit BayscapeFlorida.com.

I also spoke with Cary Anderson of Streetfront Commercial Properties, who is now leasing out the space in the Shoppes of Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms, which does have a few vacancies, including the 6,400-square-foot space previously occupied by Casa Ramos Mexican Restaurant.

Anderson says he has been close to closing a deal for the space, but that he is still looking for “something special, like a sit-down Italian or seafood restaurant or even a great sandwich place for that Casa Ramos slot.”

Amici Pizza Reopens…And The Crowd Goes Wild!!

It took so long to open that many fans on the Wesley Chapel Community Facebook page of Amici Pizza — previously located in the Grand Oaks Square plaza on Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Lutz but which has been closed for a few months— was never going re-open in its new, freestanding building located less than a mile north of its old location.

Well, our Neighborhood News Facebook page and WCNT-tv — Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Television — were among the first to announce last month that brothers Vincent and Rick Mannino had finally reopened at 26602 Wesley Chapel Blvd./S.R. 54, also in Lutz.

The result of our announcement was one of our most popular Facebook posts and WCNT-tv videos of 2018 — with a reach of nearly 26,000 people, 15,000+ views on YouTube and Facebook and 1,600+ likes, loves, shares and comments.

Happy Amici patrons across the area were raving about the layout and look of the new place, the food (like the true NY-style meat pizza above; photo by Gavin Olsen) and about the return of a 16-year-old local favorite. We wish the Mannino brothers luck, but it doesn’t look like they’re going to need it. We also wish Rick’s wife Tracy much success in her also-new Salon Tré Anne hair salon which shares the building with Amici.

Amici Pizza is open every day for lunch & dinner. For take out & more info, call (813) 973-9734 or visit Amici-Pizza.com and please tell ‘em the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News sent you! For Salon Tré Anne, call (813) 994-3553 or visit the salon’s page on Facebook.

Again, we’ll keep you posted. — GN

Amici Pizza Bahama Breeze Nibbles & Bytes WCNT-tv

Traffic From New Developments Revives The Idea Of Widening Old Pasco Road

Old Pasco Rd. (above) might be getting a fresh look in the near future, as a new middle and high school, new home and apartment developments and a business park threaten to add significant cars to the two-land road. A study (map to the right) will soon take a look at safety improvements for Old Pasco Rd. (Photo: Giuliano Ferrara)

The two Pasco County commisioners who represent the largest portions of Wesley Chapel — Ron Oakley in District 1 and Mike Moore in District 2 — have had their fair share of complaints from residents about area roads, and the traffic on them.

So, as Moore, Oakley and their fellow commissioners took up the debate about a proposal clearing the way for a new business park on Old Pasco Rd., they both were in favor of taking a closer look at whether or not the two-lane road should be widened first.

That is not going to happen, however, as the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted to approve a re-zoning request that clears the way to allow 2,250,000 sq. ft. of office and light industrial entitlements on roughly 91 acres of land on the east side of Old Pasco Rd. about 290 feet south of Overpass Rd., near the new Cypress Creek Middle High School.

The BOC is hoping it attracts future businesses and brings more jobs to the county.

Moore was in favor of the re-zoning request, but considering there is a widening project already in the works for Overpass Rd., near where the new business park will be located, he said he was only suggesting, no pun intended, that the BCC look further down the road.

“I just asked why not do the whole (widening) thing at once instead of piecemeal,” said Moore. “It would be nice if it was widened all the way down to S.R. 54. You always want to be prepared for the future. Putting the infrastructure in place first is important to me.”

Oakley agreed. The Overpass Business Park, which was formerly known as the Vibrant SUN Business Park, is in his district and was approved by the Board of County Commissioners vote on May 22.

Moore’s concerns about Old Pasco Rd.’s ability to handle the additional traffic, especially from trucks, that a business park might add was assuaged by the assumption that many of the trucks and additional traffic will use the future Overpass Rd. interchange to get on and off I-75.

However, he still has concerns about the road, which will see increased traffic from the addition of middle school students to the Cypress Creek Middle/High School campus, a potential Performing Arts Center on that campus, 400 new homes in Quail Hollow, and the 264-unit Arbours at Saddle Oaks residential development at the intersection of Old Pasco Rd. and Country Club Rd.

Moore said plans to widen Old Pasco Rd. were at one time in the county’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) but were removed during the 2008 economic downturn. He said he was going to try to get the project put back into the LRTP.

He said the county is looking into applying for state infrastructure grants to pay for any potential widening project.

Pasco commissioners recently approved $89,788 for HDR Engineering, Inc. to conduct a road safety audit (RSA) and study for Old Pasco Rd. from S.R. 54 to north of Overpass Rd., a 3.32-mile stretch.

While the RSA is unrelated to the BCC’s approval of the business park, Moore said it could determine that such a need to widen Old Pasco Rd. exists.

However, the study, expected to take four months, is focued more on road safety issues and safety improvements than widening.

That study will take a look at the Old Pasco Rd. intersections with S.R. 54, Post Oak Blvd., Foamflower Blvd., Dayflower Blvd., Country Club Rd., Bonnie Blue Dr., Deedra Dr., Sonny Dr., Lindenhurst Dr., and Overpass Rd.

Old Pasco traffic Wesley Chapel

Dr. Stan Castor Of Artisan Aesthetics Offers Cellulite Treatments & Much More!

Board-certified plastic surgeon Dr. Stan Castor (center) and his professional staff at Artisan Aesthetics offer a variety of surgical and other cosmetic procedures in their office in Tampa Palms.

Every patient who visits Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center in Tampa Palms is seen personally by Board-certified plastic surgeon Stan Castor, M.D.

That’s the philosophy Dr. Castor has continued to embrace since he first opened Artisan Aesthetics in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off Commerce Park Blvd. in 2007. Dr. Castor offers facial cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation, body contouring surgery, liposuction, laser treatments, dermal fillers, facial treatments and peels, “mommy makeovers” and more.

“I don’t use a physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner in my office,” Dr. Castor says. “I do all of the consultations and procedures myself, including minor procedures, such as Botox or a dermal filler. If you come to my office, you see me.”

Dr. Castor, who is Board-certified in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, earned his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia in 1992, after earning a B.S. degree in Biology in 1987 from Florida Southern College in Lakeland.

In 1997, he completed a five-year internship and residency in General Surgery at Emory University Hospitals in Atlanta, GA, before taking on two years of intensive training in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the renewed Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH. He also completed a cosmetic surgery fellowship, offered to only two plastic surgeons each year, with world-renowned plastic surgeons Drs. Thomas J. Baker and James M. Stuzin in Miami, FL.

Cellfina Cellulite Treatment

Of the many procedures available in his office, Dr. Castor offers “Cellfina” to get rid of cellulite. Cellfina is a minimally invasive treatment that Dr. Castor says has been clinically proven to treat the primary structural cause of cellulite for at least two years, which is currently the longest FDA clearance for any cellulite treatment (see photos on next page).

Dr. Castor explains that cellulite is caused by the connective fibrous bands woven throughout fat in the thighs and buttocks. These tight bands pull down the skin, which creates that infamous puckering on the surface of the skin.

A small blade — about the size of a needle — is used to cut through the fibers. Similar to a rubber band under tension, once released, the treated skin bounces back to smooth itself out.

“What struck me as impressive is that the patient satisfaction rate for this procedure is 96 percent after two years,” Dr. Castor explains. “That’s unheard of.”

Because it is more invasive than procedures that only temporarily reduce the appearance of cellulite using treatments on the outside of the skin (including the Accent machine that has been in use at Artisan Aesthetics for some time for reducing cellulite and tightening skin), Dr. Castor says Cellfina will work better and last much longer.

It does, however, also have a higher cost than those other treatments. Cellfina treatments start at $3,000.

“There are probably 25 to 30 devices on the market to reduce the appearance of cellulite, but they only last about six months,” says Dr. Castor. “Once you stop doing the treatment, the cellulite returns. This is the only device out there that has approval for permanent cellulite removal. It’s much more effective than any temporary device.”

Breast Augmentation

Another popular procedure at Dr. Castor’s office is breast augmentation. Dr. Castor estimates he performs between 150-200 of these surgeries each year. He does so many that the vendor of the implants he uses says he does the third most procedures of any doctor in the Tampa Bay area.

One reason many women choose to have Dr. Castor perform their surgery is that — in addition to being a Board-certified plastic surgeon with 20 years of experience —all of his procedures are done in Artisan’s in-office surgery suite.

“It’s much more private and homey than being in a hospital,” says Dr. Castor. “At hospitals, there are sick people and infections, and your surgery could get bumped by an emergency. At my office, patients have a better environment, especially for this type of elective surgery.”

He explains that he has a surgical team — including a nurse anesthetist, two surgical technicians and a recovery nurse — on his staff, so you’ll see the same people in the office and at your surgery.

Dr. Castor emphasizes that there are still two primary types of implants — silicone and saline — and that they are available in different profiles to help each woman get the exact shape, size and feel she’s looking for.

“We have newer implants called ‘gummy bear’ implants,” he says, explaining that the name indicates they are thicker and firmer, but still soft, like the texture of a gummy bear. “Every couple of years, they come up with something that looks better and feels even more natural.”

He says some prospective patients worry about safety, but the silicone implant leaks of the 1990s are a thing of the distant past.

“Silicone implants were reapproved in 2006 and they’ve pretty much taken over the market,” he says, adding that the revised silicone implants have, “been out for 12 years, so if there was a problem we would know about it by now.”

A patient of Dr. Castor’s, who lives in Lutz and asked us not to use her name, says she is particularly impressed by the doctor’s bedside manner and how much he cares about his patients.

“During the consultation, he was pretty thorough,” she says. “We went over different options, as far as incisions, and he takes into account what your concerns are. Even the day of the surgery, he came in and talked with me about what to expect, when to remove my bandages, and made sure to answer all of the questions I had.”

She adds, “I absolutely love the outcome. Two days after my surgery, Dr. Castor was on vacation, (but still) called me to follow up and check up on me to see how I was doing and if I had any questions or concerns that came up. It was unexpected and really nice, and is a testament to how important his patients are to him.”

Dr. Castor explains that he does all consultations himself, spending 30-45 minutes going over everything, discussing what the client is looking for — such as a natural look in a bathing suit or a look that really “shows” — and then making a recommendation for certain implants or profiles, and answering any and all questions. “A lot of patients tell me they’ve been to several doctors,” he says, “and I’ve spent more time with them than all of the other doctors combined.”

For more information about breast augmentation, visit ArtisanPlasticSurgeryCenter.net/breast-augmentation.

From there, you also can visit other parts of the doctor’s website, including a section with several videos, where you can learn more about Dr. Castor and his office.

Over the years, Dr. Castor has built a reputation for himself through the work he’s done with his patients, so much so that the Consumer Research Council (a Washington, DC-based research organization that provides guides to consumers about professionals in different industries) named him in its 2010 Guide to America’s Top Surgeons, and he has appeared in the Guide every year since then.

Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center is located at 5383 Primrose Lake Cir. in Tampa Palms and is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. For more information, visit DrCastor.com or call (813) 971-2000.

Dr. Stan Castor Featured Business plastic surgeon

Wesley Chapel’s Professional Fireworks Spectacular Returns To Avalon Park West!

Not too many small towns can say they have their own Fourth of July fireworks display but, thanks to Avalon Park West (APW), Wesley Chapel can.

For the fifth consecutive year, APW will host a celebration that, in past years, has drawn crowds in the thousands.

And, for the third straight year, it is the only place in Wesley Chapel to catch a professional fireworks display, since the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel stopped hosting its Freedom Fest celebrations at the Shops at Wiregrass.

But, it’s not just about fireworks at Avalon Park West, a growing mixed-use community located off S.R. 54, adjacent to (and technically a separately-developed part of) New River Township. The party actually begins at 5 p.m., with a host of family-friendly activities leading into the rockets’ red glare, which is scheduled to begin at 9 p.m.

“Our Independence Day Celebration is meant to bring all of the region together for an event they will remember,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior VP at Avalon Park Group, the developer of APW. “We take great pride in providing unique opportunities to play in Avalon Park West.”

The activities include:

• A pie bake-off.

• A bike parade, with kids showcasing and decorating their bikes.

• Wet & dry slides, for kids of all sizes.

• Dozens of vendors featuring crafts and other goods

• Food Trucks

Last year’s crowd was estimated at 3,000 people, and Marielle Fernandez, APW’s marketing and events coordinator, says “we expect even more this year.” Fernandez adds that there also will be bounce houses and community performers this year.

“The idea is to bring the community together,” she says. “This event is for them.”

For additional information, visit AvalonParkWest.com.

Avalon Park Avalon Park West fourth of july