Author: Gary Nager

Saying Goodbye to Bobby Bowden

Even though I graduated from the University of Florida and the late, great Bobby Bowden coached our in-state rivals, the Florida State Seminoles, I definitely felt a sense of loss when I heard he had passed away at the age of 91.

Gary Nager Editorial

I transferred to UF from the Division III State University of New York at Albany before the start of the fall semester in 1979. That year, the Gators finished the season with a record of 0-10-1, including the final 27-16 loss at home to FSU, which was undefeated and ranked fifth in the country at the time. It was Bowden’s fourth season as the coach of the ‘Noles, after six mostly succesful years as the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers.

My roommates and I were among the 58,000 in attendance at that 1979 game, and we were encouraged to only be trailing 10-0 at halftime. Then, we were downright giddy when the Gators tied the game at 10-10 before the end of the 3rd quarter. But, Bowden completely outcoached rookie Gators’ coach Charley Pell the rest of the way to complete our winless season, still the worst in Florida’s history. We were happy that Bowden’s unbeaten team was dominated by #5 Oklahoma 24-7 at the 1980 Orange Bowl.

The Gators were better the following year, finishing the season with an 8-4 record, including a 35-20 win over the Maryland Terrapins in the Tangerine Bowl, and as the 19th-ranked team in the country, in Pell’s second season.

But, the last of those four losses came at the hands — and brilliant football mind — of Bowden and his ‘Noles, a game my roommate “Squiggy” and I drove to Tallahassee to see.

And, even though we sat in what seemed like a sea of garnet & gold, Squig and I were enjoying the game well into the third quarter, as Pell’s Gators somehow led #3 FSU 13-3. But, the defense of the coach later known as the “Riverboat Gambler” for his amazing trick plays, dominated us after halftime, when we seemingly had negative yards rushing (we averaged less than 2.5 yards per carry for the game). And, 53 of our 160 total yards passing came on one first-quarter TD pass from QB Wayne Peace to WR Tyrone Young, as the Gators ended up losing 17-13.

Squig and I knew that win sent the 10-1 ‘Noles back to the Orange Bowl for a rematch with #4 Oklahoma and also-legendary coach Barry Switzer. The Sooners were favored by less than a touchdown and rallied to win the game 18-17 in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard TD pass from QB J.C. Watts to WR Steve Rhodes and a two-point conversion pass to TE Forrest Valora with only 1:33 remaining. Even so, Bowden’s team gave it the ol’ college try, but the comeback (and PK Bill Capece’s 62-yard FG attempt) fell short.

But, even though I celebrated that FSU loss and virtually anything bad that happened to the ‘Noles after that, I still have a profound respect for this amazing coach. RIP, Mr. Bowden.

Bobby Bowden

Nibbles & Bites: Skipper’s Smokehouse, new restaurants and a ribbon cutting.

Pick Of The Week: Skipper’s Smokehouse!

Although it’s located 20 minutes or so south of Wesley Chapel, the legendary Skipper’s Smokehouse (910 Skipper Rd., off N. Nebraska Ave. in North Tampa) has officially reopened — and anyone who has lived in this area for more than a few years surely has visited (and missed!) this fun and funky non-chain seafood restaurant and live music venue.

I visited the closed-since-Covid restaurant on one of its soft pre-reopening days a few weeks ago and was thrilled with the latest incarnation of this long-time favorite.

Back when Wesley Chapel had only a handful of homes and New Tampa had only a few restaurants of its own, Skipper’s was famous on both sides of the county line for its great drink prices, outstanding live music, fresh fish (like the yummy grilled wahoo, above right, that I brought home to Jannah), raw oysters and great wings (above left). My new friends Terri and Michael (below) enjoyed those crispy wings (with medium-spicy “hotter” sauce on the side) so much that they got a second order of them. And, Skipper’s has revamped its menu from its soft opening to include a few more of its all-time favorites, from gator ribs to pulled pork and from fried shrimp to crawdaddy mac and more.

And, the locally famous Grateful Dead cover band, Uncle John’s Band, returned for its first Thursday evening show at Skipper’s in more than a year just before we went to press with this issue, and another popular Skipper’s staple, The Red Elvises, put on the first Saturday night love music show at the Skipperdome.

Hopefully, Skipper’s also will bring back its famous, adults-only Freakers Ball this year to celebrate Halloween properly.

Call (813) 971-0666 or visit SkippersSmokehouse.com for more Grand Reopening info, showtimes and the new menu — and please tell them I sent you! — GN

More Food Coming Soon To Our Area!

Years ago, Carrabba’s Italian Grill was rumored to be coming to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, on a still-undeveloped parcel located south of where Bonefish Grill used to be located (where it has been replaced by Señor Tequila).

Then, originally reported in 2019 to be coming to the Cypress Creek Town Center area on the north side of S.R. 56, along with the now-open Aussie Grill, and the new location of Bonefish, Carrabbas’s has finally begun construction. According to Pasco County’s permitting records, the 5,074-sq.-ft. Carrabba’s will be built in between Bonefish Grill and Aussie Grill. — JCC

Meanwhile, Zaxby’s (right), the fast-casual fried chicken eatery, is getting ready to open on the south side of 56, near ALDI and the Tidal Wave Car Wash and was still hiring additional employees as this issue went to press. — GN

The ExerScience Center Hosts A Ribbon Cutting!

Congratulations go out to my friend and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Dr. Lauren Leiva of The ExerScience Center, located at 24706 S.R. 54 in Lutz, less than two miles east of the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Lauren, her family and staff hosted a Greater Pasco Chamber ribbon cutting on July 19 and she, of course, couldn’t resist the urge to cut the ribbon with a Samurai sword, instead of the traditional (and boring, at least to her) scissors.

Lauren has helped strengthen my knees and Jannah rehab her back and The ExerScience Center also offers outstanding personal training, nutrition counseling, group fitness and yoga classes, in addition to her award-winning physical therapy — as she has been named the People’s Choice Best of the Best Physical Therapist by the Tampa Bay Times two years in a row. To find out more, call (813) 803-7070 or visit TheExerScienceCenter.com. — GN

Bosco’s Italian-To-Go — Great People Serving Great Value!

I consider Bosco’s Italian-to-Go owners Nancy and Charles Frankulin to be my friends, even though they know that because their thin-crust pizza is made “Detroit style,” or on a conveyor belt oven, instead of on a traditional New York-style stone, their pizza is never going to finish at the top of my list of local favorites.

Even so, I give them high marks for quality ingredients (I do love the taste of their pizza sauce and mozzarella cheese), super-fair prices and for being quality people who genuinely care about their community.

These Wesley Chapel High graduates have seen a lot of local pizza places come and go in their nearly five years since taking over the Bosco’s location in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54 from original owner David Bosco.

And, while many more restaurants failed because of the Covid-19 pandemic the last year+, Bosco’s has maintained its clientele and has continued to deliver (more on that below) its Italian fare to more and more people in every community in Wesley Chapel.

Plenty Of Favorites…

I do want to make it clear that although Bosco’s isn’t my favorite pizza locally, there are plenty of options on their menu that I do genuinely enjoy.

First of all, the pepperoni on the hand-tossed pizza (above) is delicious, and I also like their plain cheese and “meat feast” pizzas (the latter with pepperoni, Italian sausage and bacon). Photographer Charmaine George, who took all of the photos on this page, said the Buffalo chicken pizza had just the right amount of spice and there also are veggie, “Honolulu pineapple,” white winter spinach and chicken Alfredo pizzas on the menu, starting as low as $11.50 for a 14” plain cheese and going up to no more than $20.99 for the 18” meat feast and “Works” pizzas.

I also genuinely like Bosco’s crispy, naked baked chicken wings (I get them plain, as shown below, with the sauce on the side; 8 wings for $7.99, 16 for $14.99 and 40 for $35.99), the sides of homemade meatballs or sausage ($3.39), the chicken Alfredo pasta dinner ($8.49) and especially, the chicken parmigiana dinner ($8.99, it also comes with pasta) and hot sub sandwich ($8.49). The cut-up strips of chicken parm aren’t breaded, and the thicker tomato sauce is extra zesty, so you can enjoy the entrée even if you’re on a low-carb diet (although you’ll probably want to try it with one of Bosco’s fresh salads instead of the pasta if you’re keto-ing).

As for the subs, the bread does come out with a crispy edge, so I do recommend not only the chicken parm, but also the meatball ($8.49) and sweet Italian sausage (with onions and peppers) subs (also $8.49). There also are cold Italian ($8.49) and ham and cheese ($7.49) subs that Nancy says are very popular but I haven’t tried. All of Bosco’s subs come with a bag of chips and a can of soda, too.

Speaking of salads, Bosco’s has a very tasty Greek salad, with olives, feta cheese and banana peppers ($8.99), as well as Caesar ($6.49), chicken Caesar ($8.99), grilled chicken or chicken tender salads (both are $8.49) and an antipasto salad ($8.99) I’ve never sampled.

I do also like Bosco’s garlic bread sticks ($4.99) and garlic cheesy bread sticks ($5.99), as well as the lasagne ($9.49), baked ziti ($7.99) and stuffed shells ($8.49). All dinners are served with a small salad and garlic knots. I’ve also never tried include calzones (with one topping of your choice, ricotta and mozzarella, for $11.49), strombolis (stuffed with 3 Italian meats & 3 Italian cheeses for $12.99). Add $1.75 for each additional topping with your calzone or stromboli.

Save room for dessert, as Bosco’s offers hand-piped cannolis ($3.39) and delicious CinnaStix ($5.50). “There’s a baker in New Port Richey who provides our cheesecake ($3.39), tiramisu ($3.99) and cannolis,” Charles says.

Helping Those In Need

Charles and Nancy also enjoy doing their part to help the local community, as they have done school supplies drives in years past and now have a small food pantry on at Bosco’s to help local residents in need.

“We collect non-perishable food items and offer them to anyone in the community who says they need help, no questions asked,” Nancy says. “There is no stigma here. We’ve only been collecting items for a few months, but already have had a lot of locals thanking us for the help.”

Bosco’s also provides its own pizza delivery, instead of using Grubhub, Uber Eats or other delivery services. “We deliver to all of Wesley Chapel,” Charles says proudly.

Bosco’s Italian-to-Go is located at 30122 S.R. 54 and is open Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m., and 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. For more information, call (813) 907-2440 or visit BoscosItalianFL.com.

Bosco's food

Bubba’s 33 In Wesley Chapel Adds More Italian-Inspired Fare

I have been a fan of Bubba’s 33, located next to its sister restaurant, Texas Roadhouse (just east of the S.R. 56 exit off I-75), since before the location officially opened at the end of 2019. We attended the groundbreaking ceremony for Bubba’s 33’s first Florida location in September of that year, and even though we didn’t get to sample any of the delicious food at that event, there was a great energy that day that I have personally seen flow through the restaurant’s management, employees and patrons ever since.

Our first sample of the Bubba’s 33 menu came in December of that year and the burgers, wings, pizza and other predominantly sports bar-oriented fare we were given that day gave us a pretty good idea of what to expect — always-made-from-scratch food at very fair prices, with great adult beverage prices, too.

New managing partner Joe Vergona has only been with Bubba’s 33 since January of this year, but as a fellow New Yorker, he and I were both excited to see Bubba’s recently expand its Italian options beyond its not-quite-New-York-style (but still delicious) tin-crust pizzas, which definitely are made with fresh ingredients and served extra crispy (the way I prefer).

“We have added an Italian-style meatball appetizer,” the native Brooklynite says, “as well as both a chicken parmigiana sandwich and a chicken parmigiana pasta option. They’re all already doing very well.”

And for good reason. The Momma’s Homemade Meatball starter offers three nice-sized beef-and-pork meatballs in a semi-spicy tomato sauce, covered with melted cheeses and served with spot-on garlic bread for dipping up the extra sauce and cheese. It definitely has been added to mine and Jannah’s ever-expanding list of Bubba’s favorites.

I haven’t sampled the chicken parm pasta dish yet, but the sandwich is a generous portion of breaded chicken strips, topped with a slightly different-tasting tomato sauce and mozzarella and provolone cheeses (I might order the pickle slices served on top on the side instead), plus a generous portion of crispy French fries (or your choice of sides, including fresh broccoli, sweet potato fries, mac n’ cheese, chili and more).

Speaking Of Favorites…

Although we had tried several of Bubba’s pizzas before, on our most recent visit, Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I were all really excited about The Dickie V pizza, named (of course) for long-time college basketball commentator and Tampa Bay-area resident Dick Vitale.

This zesty, flavorful pizza includes Italian sausage, a hint of cherry peppers, fresh basil, grated parmesan cheese and a garlic buttered crust. As Dickie V himself would (and the menu does) say, “It’s awesome, baby!”

And, for every Dickie V “Pizzas for Victory” sold, Bubba’s 33 donates to The V Foundation for Cancer Research, so it’s a super-tasty way to support a worthy cause.

Other Italian-oriented items on the Bubba’s 33 menu include strombolis (the “Super” version includes pepperoni, salami, Italian sausage, Canadian bacon, mozzarella, provolone and marinara; there’s also a meatball stromboli), garlic knots (with marinara and cheese dipping sauces), “Crooked” fried cheese, really good lasagne and even an Italian chopped salad (with salami, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, smoked turkey and mozzarella).

Other great pizzas on the menu include an Italian margherita (with smoked tomatoes and basil), the Meaty Meaty, the fresh veggie and the pepperoni. There’s even a goat cheese arugula option I’ve never tried.

And, I also really love both the grilled ribeye and the Signature ribeye Texas Roadhouse-inspired steaks. The Signature is marinated in a Starbucks® espresso blend and both steaks are hand-cut and served with two sides.

Our other favorites include the crispy traditional and boneless wings (try the raspberry chipotle or Habanero Heat sauces), the California chicken (grilled chicken with avocado and pico de gallo), bacon grind double-patty and half-pound Angus beef burgers, the bacon mac n’ cheese and Charmaine also offers a happy shout out to the chipotle chicken and shrimp pasta.

A True Community Partner

Bubba’s 33 also is one of our area’s best community partner eateries, offering fund-raising events to local PTAs and other nonprofits, and working with the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, where there’s a Bubba’s 33 MVP of the Month board honoring young athletes, as well as AdventHealth Center Ice and more.

“We really do have something for everyone,” Joe says proudly, “so come check us out!”

Bubba’s 33 (26340 Silver Maple Pkwy.) is open Mon.-Thur., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.; 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat.; and 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 522-5090 or visit Bubbas33.com.

Bubba's 33 food Italian

Editorial: Congrats To Hope & The Bolts; Condolences To Samantha

When North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) president and CEO Hope Kennedy asked me to write her a recommendation letter to help her get into the Executive Master of Business Administration (MBA) program at my alma mater, the University of Florida, I was proud and honored that she asked, but I warned her that I didn’t know how much pull I actually had at the school I graduated from 30 years ago.

Well, now I’m proud to report that my letter didn’t prevent Hope (photo, right) from getting into U-F, as she posted her letter of acceptance to the program (which is weekends-only) on her Facebook page, which said “…We feel you will be a great addition to our incoming class, and your academic and professional background will be a terrific asset inside our MBA classroom.”

Hope said that because the program is weekends only, there will be “no changes for my role at the NTBC.” Congrats, Hope. Go Gators!

Go Bolts!

As I went to press with my July 6 Wesley Chapel issue (on July 27), the Tampa Bay Lightning had just advanced to the Stanley Cup Finals for the second year in a row, following a thrilling, seven-game series win — capped by a hard-to-breathe 1-0 squeaker at Amalie Arena in Game 7 — over the New York Islanders in the Cup Semifinals, to claim the Prince of Wales Trophy usually given to the National Hockey League’s Eastern Conference champions.

At that time, I called my shot — Bolts in 5 games over the Montreal Canadiens — and not only did they capture their second Cup in a row, they did so in the five games I predicted.

Just as they did last year before they ended up beating the Dallas Stars 2-0 in the sixth game of the 2020 Cup Finals in Edmonton, Alberta, Captain Steven Stamkos and his teammates (including team chiropractor Dr. Tim Bain (photo, right) chose to touch the Prince of Wales trophy.

Many teams advancing to the Cup Finals have avoided touching the Conference trophies, but the Lightning proved that superstition wrong last year, when they took home the 2020 Cup in the NHL’s Edmonton “bubble” (meaning that Tampa Bay fans did not get to see any of those wins at home), and again at home at Amalie Arena this year.

The Canadiens — who beat the Vegas Golden Knights in five games and have won more Stanley Cups (23) than any other NHL team— chose to not touch the Clarence S. Campbell bowl usually given to the NHL’s Western Conference champions before heading to the Finals, where Lightning goalie Andrei Vasilevskiy outdueled Habs’ netminder Carey Price to claim the Conn Smythe Trophy as Playoff MVP.

My Condolences…

It is with great sadness that I send my condolences to Samantha Taylor for the recent passing of her husband Drew, who would have turned 51 this month, after a three-week battle with pneumonia.

Samantha, of course, is the owner of four Samantha Taylor Fitness studios for women, including here in Wesley Chapel, and Drew was her personal trainer and the reason she started her studios. Jannah (who works out at Samantha’s Wesley Chapel studio) and I share her grief.

To make a donation to help, search “Please pray for Samantha Taylor’s husband, Drew” at GoFundMe.com. — GN

hope allen