So, if you thought that the new Poké Island Plus, which opened shortly before we went to press with this issue in the same Village at Hunter’s Lake plaza that also is home to Fresh Kitchen, First Watch, Via Italia and Touch Nail Spa, was “just another poké bowl place,” guess again.
Great sushi, Vietnamese food and boba teas are the “Plusses” at Poké Island Plus. So, whether you like California, Mexican or spicy tuna rolls or hand rolls, or Vietnamese bun noodle bowls (like the top photo, with marinated, grilled pork), pho noodle soup, rice plates or fried rice, Poké Island Plus also has you covered. Oh, and there’s also delicious appetizers, like the pork, cabbage and onion gyoza dumplings shown below, as well as Vietnamese fresh rolls with shrimp, pork, vermicelli rice noodles and lettuce wrapped in rice paper, mini vegetable egg rolls, chicken skewers, edamame, tempura shrimp and steamed bao buns. There’s even fried donuts for dessert.
But, the poké bowls, whether you custom-design your own — with 1-3 scoops of tuna, salmon, spicy tuna or salmon, krab mix, fried chicken, steamed shrimp, fried tofu or tamago as your protein(s) of choice — or choose one of the Signature Poké Bowls or Burritos (from Krispy Krab to Philly to Land Meets Sea to Protein Junkie (with salmon, tuna, spicy salmon and spicy tuna), everything at Poké Island Plus that we’ve sampled in the short time it’s been open has been fresh and delicious.
In fact, managing editor John Cotey, whose wife is Vietnamese, says his entire family loved the pho noddle soup and other Vietnamese specialties, so you know it’s good.
Photographer/videographer Charmaine George also said that her taro boba milk tea with mango popping bobas was delicious, too.
Poké Island Plus (8636 Hunter’s Village Rd.) is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. every day. To place an order, call (813) 866-POKE (7653) or check them out on Facebook, Doordash or Uber Eats. If you do stop in, please tell them you read about them in the Neighborhood News! — GN
Rose O’Berry has moved her A Special Rose Florist to the Shoppes at Amberly in Tampa Palms, where she offers fresh-cut flowers from all over the world for any occasion. (Photos: Charmaine George)
If you live in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel, there’s a pretty good chance you’ve visited my long-time friend Rose O’Berry at her A Special Rose Florist & Event Specialist on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just south of Tampa Palms.
Well, after 18 years, New Tampa’s favorite flower shop has a new location — at the eastern end of the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms, next to You Do The Dishes.
Rose says, “I’ve been working with flowers since I was 16 and it was always a dream of mine to open my own shop, so in 2003, I opened A Special Rose on Bruce B. Downs.”
But, because Rose did so well in that location south of our New Tampa distribution area, she started talking to me several years ago about expanding her business to the north, and jumped at the chance to be able to be in a busier plaza to generate more walk-in traffic.
“We bring in flowers from Ecuador, Holland and all over the world fresh every day,” she says, “so we can provide whatever types of flowers you want, from a nice variety of roses, hydrangeas and lilies to tulips and even seasonal flowers.”
A Special Rose also can put together custom-designed gourmet baskets, with hand-dipped chocolates, fresh fruit and other delicacies, plus flowers, plants, plush toys, balloons and other unique items.
When you walk into A Special Rose, Rose, floral designer Erica Daniell or another employee will ask you if you want the flowers you choose wrapped or in a vase, “and we work with them to determine if they have a favorite flower or flowers, and if they want a certain color scheme.”
In addition to weddings, Rose says A Special Rose also does flowers for a lot of corporate events, Christmas parties, memorial services, sweet 16s, quincañeras, Bar and Bat Mitzvahs, and will deliver what you need when you need it, “all over Tampa Bay. We also can do nationwide delivery, where we work with other (flower) shops in other states.”
As for what sets A Special Rose apart from other florists (don’t even talk to her about flowers from the local grocery stores), Rose says it’s, “Our experience. I have been working with flowers since I was 16 and have trained Erica since she was 16, so you always get your choice of the freshest flowers arranged the way you want them. We also bring in fresh flowers every day, whereas some shops only get theirs once a week.”
And, A Special Rose always has great specials on flowers, so please call the store or visit ASpecialRoseFlorist.com for this month’s specials.
A Special Rose Florist & Event Specialist is now located at 15353 Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms. For more information, call (813) 979-9453 or check out our “Lo & Ro On The Go” video on our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page.
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.
The Skipperdome at Skipper’s Smokehouse. (Photo: SkippersSmokehouse.com)
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
Nancy and Charles Frankulin invite you to check out their Buffalo chicken and other hand-tossed pizzas and homemade Italian specialties. (Photo by Charmaine George)
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).
Naked chicken wings
Charles Frankulin tossing pizza dough.
Chicken Alfredo
Chicken Parmigiana sub
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.
Cannoli
Meatballs
Greek salad
Cheese pizza
Nancy Piping the Cannoli
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.
