Month: January 2023

Platinum Salon — An Outstanding Salon & Community Partner!

If you said you’ve never heard of Platinum Salon, located in the same plaza as Burger 21 off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., I’d have to say I’d be a little surprised.

Sure, the upscale, 1,600-sq.-ft. salon itself isn’t visible from BBD, but Platinum Salon’s visibility is more about its co-owners, Master Colorist/Stylist Allen Coleman and former occupational therapist Michael Berthelette, who handles the business side of the salon’s business.

Berthelette previously owned the Pure Hair salon with Coleman in Land O’Lakes, while Coleman — who opened Salon at the Walk in New Tampa in 1997 — has owned and operated five salons throughout the Tampa Bay area over the past 33 years. The partners opened Platinum Salon five years ago and merged Pure Hair with Platinum in Dec. 2018, when they closed Pure Hair.

But, while Coleman is the artist known for pushing boundaries and redefining style who is a National Leyton House (which is based in Australia) professional educator, Berthelette is the salon’s Chief Executive & Community Officer. Berthelette has been out in the community building Platinum’s pubic profile as a three-year Board member and immediate past Chairman of the Board of Directors with the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC). He also is a member of the Business Networking International (BNI) Alliance (which meets every Wednesday at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County) and recently was added to the Board of Directors of the AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Foundation.

Platinum Salon has 15 employees, including 12 stylists/colorists, all of whom, Coleman says, are “highly trained professionals” who specialize in highlights, lowlights, balayage/ombre and color corrections and also offer Keratin treatments, Brazilian blowout and other smoothing treatments, as well as tape-in hair extensions.

Coleman, who has clients who have been with him for 30+ years, inspires his stylists to be fearless behind the chair and is known for always delivering cutting-edge styles, innovative color, cutting techniques and service excellence.

“Allen is constantly seeking new challenges to add depth to his artistic experience and portfolio,” Berthelette says. “He’s driven by his unparalleled creative energy to break down barriers and leave his mark and legacy on this world.”

He adds, “Our clientele is primarily professional business women who want to look and feel special. We help them do every day at Platinum Salon.”

In addition to serving the community in BNI and both the hospital foundation and the NTBC, Berthelette, Coleman and Platinum Salon also participate in the U.S. Marine Corps’ annual Toys for Tots campaign.

“My brother-in-law Johnnie Miller served in the Marines,” Allen says. “And it’s such a worthy cause.”

Platinum Salon (20304 Trout Creek Dr.) is open Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m.; 9 a.m.-6 p.m. on Friday & Saturday and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information, call (813) 973-2400, search “PlatinumSalonTampa” on Facebook or “PlatinumHairSalonTampa” on Instagram.

Platinum Salon

Astro Craft Ice Cream Brings More Delicious Treats To S.R. 56!

Congratulations go out to my friends Ferdian Jap and Gia Tran, the co-owners of Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill on S.R. 56, who also recently opened Ato Edible Art in the KRATE at The Grove container park and even more recently opened the second location of Astro Craft Ice Cream less than a half-mile from Zukku-San on the north side of 56.

Astro, which has its original location on N. Ola Ave. in the Heights Market just north of downtown Tampa, is proud to offer locally produced craft ice cream in a variety of unique flavors, from Tampa guava cream cheese to brown sugar whiskey cookie dough and my favorite (so far), the banana pudding peanut butter cookie.

“Our classic flavors…reflect the diversity of our Tampa Bay community & honor its rich history,” according to the website AstroCraftIceCream.com.

The Astro menu also includes signature creations like tiramisu cheesecake (creme brulée café con leché ice cream topped with lady fingers, cheesecake bites and cocoa powder, finished with a chocolate flavor “shot.” (Note-There also are honey and caramel flavor shots available for your favorite ice cream creation.) There’s even a Cuban ice cream sandwich with your choice of ice cream flavors, pressed between two pieces of Cuban bread from Tampa’s La Segunda bakery.

Astro also offers a variety of toppings for your waffle cone or cup or on cookies and I don’t think there are more decadent brownies sold anywhere than those at Astro, which are supplied by Tampa-based Mike’s Pies.

Astro Craft Ice Cream (25700 Sierra Center Blvd.) is open Mon.-Wed., noon-10 p.m.); Thur.-Sat., 11 a.m.-11 p.m.; and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Sun. For more info, visit AstroCraftIceCream.com. — GN

Astro

New Tampa Dining — Oronzo, Precinct & Nova Out, Bagels & Kobé On The Way

Although 2022 was a busy year for restaurants that opened and closed in New Tampa, there was a lot more dining news on the way for 2023 in zip code 33647 as the year came to a close.

Over the past few weeks, several local eateries closed their doors for good, while others were just getting ready to open.

We were sad to see that both Nova Pizza in the Pebble Creek Collection and Precinct Pizza (top right photo) on Cross Creek Blvd. at Morris Bridge Rd. had closed.

While we haven’t yet heard about anything new opening in Precinct’s place, we’re definitely excited that Zio’s New York Bagel & Deli Co. (bottom right photo) is expected to take over for Nova by sometime in February.

Zio (which means “Uncle” in Italian) is the brainchild of Wesley Chapel resident Jeff Cofini, who previously owned several bagel places in upstate New York.

“We’ll have homemade, NY-style bagels,” Cofini says, “plus great bacon, egg & cheese sandwiches, Boar’s Head deli meats, and we’ll be open for breakfast and lunch every day.”

Cofini says he is definitely looking for hard-working help at Zio’s. Email him at ZiosNYBagels@gmail.com if you or someone you know might be interested.

Speaking of possible Feb. 2023 openings, real progress has finally been made on the new location of Kobé Japanese Steakhouse (below) and one of the contractors at the site told me that the plan is to try to open the new Kobé in time for Valentine’s Day.

We also were sad to say good-bye to the Walk at Highwoods Preserve location of Oronzo Honest Italian last month. We haven’t yet heard of a replacement for the fast-casual Italian concept, but Oronzo has another location in Midtown Tampa.

We also hoped that the new Macaw Latin Provision on Cross Creek Blvd. would be open before we went to press with this issue, but as of Jan 13, we were told that the former location of three previous restaurants — Hawkeye’s NYS Pizza, Deano’s Pizza and Fish Fiesta — was now not going to open at all and the restaurant space behind the Mobil station was available again. — GN

Brunchery Becomes Brunchin’

For anyone who was wondering why the sign above The Brunchery on S.R. 56 had changed to Brunchin’, wonder no more.

Owner Al Marku of Brunchin’ says that all three of his existing Brunchery locations (S.R. 56, New Tampa and Lithia) are in the process of becoming Brunchin’ because The Brunchery name was previously in use by other restaurants.

So, even though Brunchin’ has the same ownership, menu and outstanding service as Marku’s local Brunchery restaurants, he says he decided to make the change to a unique name that wasn’t already in use as he prepares to open his fourth Brunchin’ location in Riverview.

After finishing #2 in this year’s Reader Survey for Favorite Breakfast, Brunchin’ was named my #1 Favorite Breakfast. — GN

Finally! Overpass Rd. Interchange Is Open!

It’s been nearly 20 years in the making, but the long-anticipated interchange at I-75 and Overpass Rd. is officially opened.

The Florida Department of Transportation announced Wednesday morning that the project, which began in October 2020, was now open to traffic

The interchange, at the new Exit #282 off I-75, is located halfway between S.R. 54 (Exit 279) and S.R. 52 (Exit 285) and provided drivers in and around Wesley Chapel another option to enter and exit S.R. 75.

According to FDOT, the new interchange will address the projected increase in traffic in the area and “significantly” reduce the volume of traffic on S.R.s 52 and 54.

The diamond-shaped interchange includes a flyover ramp for those traveling west on Overpass Rd. and seeking access onto southbound I-75. It is expected to be a boon for the area, which is growing quickly and already includes Cypress Creek High School on the west side and to the east the Connected City and neighboring Villages of Pasadena Hills projects, which upon completion could add roughly 40,000 homes and hundreds of thousands of square feet of commercial projects to the area.

The Overpass Interchange project, first studied in 2005, cost $64.6 million. It first received federal approval in 2014 and overcame a roadblock in 2017, when then-Governor and current Senator Rick Scott vetoed $15 million for the project. However, the request was re-inserted into the budget in 2018 and spared another veto, pushing the project forward.

The interchange is only part of the project, which includes the widening of Overpass Rd. from two lanes to four lanes between the interstate and Old Pasco Rd. to the west and six lanes (including two auxiliary lanes) between the interstate and Boyette Rd. to the east.

Also, Blair Dr. has been realigned to connect with Old Pasco Rd., and McKendree Rd. has been realigned to connect with Boyette Rd.

A 10-foot wide sidewalk has been constructed on the north side of Overpass Rd (next to the westbound traffic lanes), and a 6-foot wide sidewalk is open on the south side (next to the eastbound traffic lanes).

fdot overpass rd.

Ato — Fast-Casual ‘Edible Art’ From Our Friends At Zukku-San

Whenever I get to talk to Ferdian Jap, the co-owner of Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill on S.R. 56, it seems that he and co-owner and executive chef Gia Tran are always talking about their next venture.

Zukku-San’s original location, known as Zukku Sushi, is located in Armature Works near downtown Tampa, and is definitely more of a fast-casual sushi bar concept than Zukku-San’s more formal, sit-down dining room equipped with a premium full bar.

Even as our Zukku-San was opening, however, Ferdian and Gia were already opening another Zukku Sushi location in Charlotte, NC.

And, sometime shortly thereafter, the first-ever location of the fast-casual concept restaurant known as Ato was opening in Lakeland, even though the second location of Ato also was getting ready to open in the KRATE at The Grove container park here in Wesley Chapel.

*Crisp vegetable spring rolls are served with a side of semi-spicy orange chili sauce.*

Ato opened here a couple of months ago and it basically combines a nice selection of Zukku-San’s appetizers (more on them below), along with both curated and make-your-own poké bowls and what the partners have dubbed “sushi burritos,” which are basically like super-sized sushi rolls, complete with seaweed (nori) wraps filled with sticky sushi rice and an assortment of available fillings.

Those Delicious Starters!

You long-time readers already know how much I love the appetizers available at Zukku-San, so please excuse me for repeating myself, as the starters at Ato offer a nice cross-section of the ones I love at Zukku-San.

First of all, while I still can’t eat shrimp (curse you, shellfish allergy), photographer Charmaine George loved Ato’s shrimp tempura appetizer served with the already-famous house-made ponzu sauce.

Speaking of shellfish issues, Ato head chef Walter Ruiz cautioned me that there is a possibility of cross-contamination in virtually everything served at Ato, but if you let them know you have an allergy, they will make sure to change into a fresh pair of gloves to prepare your food. That may not be enough for some of you to risk it, but after dozens of visits to Zukku-San and now four visits to Ato, I’ve never had my reaction after eating at either location.

Both the pan-sautéed (in egg and a sweet brown sauce) Zukku dumplings and the fried pork gyoza dumplings are nothing short of sublime.

The super-crisp vegetable spring rolls are served with the same slightly spicy orange chili sauce as at Zukku-San, but I like them better at Ato because the sauce is served on the side, which keeps those spring rolls cracklin’ crisp. At Zukku-San, the spring rolls are served atop the sauce, which does get them a little bit soggy.

I personally have never been a big fan of crab Rangoon, but the crab-and-cream-cheese pillows are very popular with the folks we’ve seen eating them at Ato. Other starters include wakame (seaweed) salad, ginger tossed salad, miso (tofu) soup and edamame (soybeans).

Bowling You Over

Ato also features a variety of big poké bowls already curated for you and also offers you the opportunity to “Express Yourself” by creating your own poké bowl.

My favorite of the curated bowls is the tuna poké, with fresh tuna, pickled red onions, masago (smelt roe/eggs), mixed greens, carrots, roasted corn, scallions, wonton chips and sesame seeds topped with a zesty, but not spicy, poké sauce. Charmaine and I both also enjoyed the spicy salmon poké bowl, with salmon, scallions, masago, wakame, cucumbers, mixed greens, carrots, grilled pineapple, pickled serrano peppers, togarashi (spice mixture), spicy nori (dried seaweed) and a not-too-spicy sriracha vin sauce.

Other curated bowls include the “Dynamite Bowl” with tempura shrimp, avocado, spicy mayo and veggies; the “Tiger Bowl,” with panko-breaded chicken, crab mix, broccoli, spicy mayo and sweet eel sauce; the “Trio Bowl” (salmon, tuna and hamachi, or yellowtail); and the “Florida Bowl,” with tuna, salmon and avocado.

There are three sizes of “Express Yourself” bowls, made with your choice of “Canvas” (sushi rice, brown rice or mixed greens), your choice of the proteins mentioned previously, one sauce per protein and lots of “Embellishments” (including asparagus and edamame beans) and “Finish It Up” options that include salmon bacon, teriyaki shitake mushrooms, cilantro and more.

The curated burritos include “The Buddha” (all veggies), the “Land & Sea” (with panko chicken and tempura shrimp), “The Godzilla” (spicy tuna, hamachi, tempura shrimp and crab mix) and “The Kraken” (salmon, crab mix, cream cheese, serrano peppers, pineapple and more).

Ato also offers hot and cold sakes, pinot gris, pinot noir, Sapporo Japanese beer on draft and non-alcoholic drinks like fountain sods, coconut water, rotating flavors of Ramune Japanese sodas and certified organic Tractor beverages, including cold brew green tea, hibiscus and Mandarin orange & cardamom.

In other words, if you haven’t tried Ato yet, I think there’s a great chance you’ll love it when you do!

Ato is located at 5816 Goldview Pkwy., Suite 102, at the south end of the KRATEs. It is open from 11 a.m. every day until 9 p.m. Mon,-Fri., until 10 p.m. on Sat. and 7 p.m. on Sun. For more info, visit AtoPoke.com or call (813) 602-2015. Online ordering is available but delivery currently is not.

Ato