Minerva Indian Restaurant — Where Adventurous Taste Buds Are Rewarded!

EVEN WHEN I lived in New York City, where some of the most renowned Indian cuisine outside of the sub-continent itself is served, I was never the biggest fan of curry, a primary (and spicy) ingredient in Indian food from all of the country’s many distinct regions, each of which has its own signature dishes.

But, it’s been more than 35 years since I lived in the Big Apple and since then, either my taste buds have “grown up” or the two-year-old Minerva Indian Restaurant in the New Tampa center plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. has some of the most delicious Indian food I’ve ever tasted.

Or, maybe a little bit of both.

At any rate, when Minerva opened in 2016, I had freelance writer Brad Stager write the story about owner Venkat Reddy’s unassuming (from the outside) but elegant inside eatery because a) Brad told me he knows quite a bit about and loves Indian food and b) I was concerned about not being able to rave about a new advertiser.

Well, you can call me an old dog learning some new tricks at Minerva, which actually shouldn’t surprise me too much because even when it first opened, I was definitely impressed not only with the restaurant’s huge selection of excellent Indian beers (at really low prices; see below for more info), but also with Minerva’s Indian-style Chinese chicken fried rice, which had a hint of curry, but nothing about the spices were overpowering and the portion was huge.

Two years later, Venkat has an even more impressed new fan. Whether you enjoy Minerva’s tremendous lunch buffet, which offers different dishes every day, including North and South Indian and Indo Chinese options, which is a great way to sample more than two dozen options (including salads, vegetarian dishes and desserts, as well as many main and side dishes), or order off the huge and very fairly priced menu, you really can’t go wrong.

Among the starters I’ve sampled, I really enjoyed the crispy vegetable spring rolls (served with mint and tamarind sauces on the side; I preferred the tamarind), the equally crisp and delicious garlic naan (similar to pita bread, but crispier and better tasting than any pita I’ve ever eaten) and the Minerva Special Soup, which is sort of a blend of traditional New York-style Chinese egg drop soup and my mom’s homemade chicken soup. In addition to a savory, but not spicy broth, the soup is loaded with white meat chicken and a variety of fresh veggies. In a word…awesome.

And if you have never sampled any of the Indian beers, you owe it to yourself to include a Taj Majal, Kingfisher or the amazing Hunter strong premium beer, which does have a 6.5-percent alcohol content (thus, the “strong” label), but tastes to me like a crisp, refreshing lager or pilsner.

Enticing Entrées!

I usually steer clear of Indian buffets, because, too often, there are too many different kinds of curry in one place for me. I know most people who like Indian food go for the butter chicken, Masala or Tikka Masala dishes (all of which are Specialties of the House at Minerva), but when I ate Indian food in New York, I really only liked Tandoori clay oven dishes, and only at some places. And, while I do enjoy Minerva’s Tandoori chicken on the buffet, my favorite entrée at Minerva is the Tandoori lamb shish kabab, which is actually ground lamb served with a crispy edge outside and tender inside on a sizzling fajita-style dish, only with better onions and peppers than at any Mexican restaurant. And, best of all, none of the entrées I’ve mentioned costs more than $14.95.

I also really enjoyed the Minerva Special Chicken, which serves equally delicious veggies with boneless chicken pieces in a sweet red curry sauce that has no bite at all. Another new favorite of mine is the goat curry, which is tender goat on the bone, again with a very light curry sauce that was excellent when paired with the vegetable biryani (basmati rice) from the buffet. And, speaking of the buffet, it’s truly a bargain at $9.95 Monday-Friday (11 a.m.-3 p.m.) and although the buffet costs $12.95 on Saturday and Sunday, Venkat says that he adds some special items that make it well worth the extra cost.

And yes, for you vegetarians out there, Minerva offers nearly two dozen veggie entrées, plus hand-made dosas (crepes), a South Indian favorite served with sambar, coconut and ginger chutney and a variety of veggie-based fillings.

So, reward your adventurous taste buds and try Minerva Indian Restaurant. You’ll be glad you did.

Minerva is located at 19050 BBD in New Tampa. For more info, call (813) 978-8586 or visit MinervaTampa.com.

Farina Orthodontic Specialists Opens New Building & Office In Wesley Chapel!

Orthodontists Dr. Rudy Wagner (left) and Dr. Mark Farina will keep your kids smiling at their new Farina Orthodontic Specialists office on BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, just north of S.R. 56.

I try not to have to write too many of these business feature stories anymore because, after 24 years of owning and editing the Neighborhood News, I’ve written so many stories about (for the purpose of this story) doctors and dentists of all specialties that it’s hard for me (or anyone, really) to approach each story with a fresh perspective.

So, why I am I so deliriously happy to write this story about Farina Orthodontic Specialists, which recently opened an amazing new office on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel?

Because, quite honestly, I will always feel personally indebted to orthodontist Mark Farina, D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine) because not only did he truly transform the smiles of both of my sons, he showed my entire family his heart. He didn’t just ask the boys questions when they would visit during the years they wore braces, he genuinely cared about what they had to say and still can recite back information about both of them to me today, 15+ years later.

First, a little background about Dr. Farina’s schooling and training. He earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from Boston College in Boston, MA. He earned his D.M.D. degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine in Philadelphia and did his post-graduate orthodontic training at New York University in New York City, NY.

He also has received advanced training in the integrated diagnosis and treatment of temporomandibular joint pain, or TMJ, and has served on research teams at both New York University and the University of Pennsylvania to help find new and better ways to solve orthodontic problems.

The new office has lots of great new technology, including a digital impressions machine that eliminates the need for goopy molds.

He also participates in Continuing Education to stay up-to-date on the latest breakthroughs and most effective innovations in the industry and attends more than 80 hours of professional seminars so that he may bring the most advanced diagnosis, treatment and technology to my patients.

Mark started advertising in my publications way back when he only had his original offices — on N. Habana Ave. in West Tampa and an office he shared in the Palm Lake at Tampa Palms office building with oral surgeon Dr. Ted Grellner. He continued to promote his business in these pages when he and general dentist Dr. Rodney Holcombe built a new office in the professional plaza adjacent to what is now called the Shoppes of Amberly in Tampa Palms in 2000.

He did eventually take something of a hiatus from advertising with me a few years after he had transformed Jared’s crossover canine teeth and Jake’s giant “Chicklets” into the gorgeous smiles both still have today. Why? Quite honestly, his Tampa Palms office was already so busy he really couldn’t handle more new patients.

Enter: Dr. Rudy Wagner

When you talk to Mark about his wife, Lissette (who handles the marketing for his practice, which now has three offices) and his own sons, Stefano and Sergio, you will believe he cares about you and your children the same way he cares about his own family. He doesn’t just appreciate your business. He feels it is his honor and privilege that you have entrusted something so precious to any parent as your child’s smile to him and he will always take the time to ensure they end up looking the way you expect when he finishes his work.   

So, even though neither of his sons took an interest in becoming an orthodontist, Mark’s nephew, Dr. Rudy Wagner, who was born in the U.S. but raised in Puerto Rico, did decide to become a dentist. The always-smiling Dr. Rudy joined Mark in 2015, after graduating with his D.M.D. degree from the University of Puerto Rico School of Dental Medicine in San Juan, where he also earned both his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology and his Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Dental Sciences.

Dr. Rudy also did post-graduate work at Lehigh Valley Hospital, in Allentown, PA, where he had a general practice residency, and his post-graduate orthodontic training at the University of Puerto Rico.

The New Office

Due to the overcrowding at his New Tampa office — he says that he and Dr. Rudy have now helped improve 20,000 smiles the last 24 years — and wanting to expand into the booming Wesley Chapel market, Mark and Lissette purchased some property from the Porter family three years ago in the Wiregrass Ranch area, between Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) and the also-new Florida Medical Clinic building.

New Tampa residents should have no trouble finding the new Farina Orthodontics office in Wesley Chapel, because of its unique cube shape and clock facing BBD.

And, a few weeks ago, the unique, cube-shaped building housing the new Wesley Chapel office of Farina Orthodontic Specialists opened on the 5,333-sq.-ft. first floor of the three-story, 16,000-sq.-ft. building. Mark says a periodontist and an endodontist are going to occupy the 2nd floor of the building, but he still has the 5,333-sq.-ft. third floor available. “It has amazing views and would be perfect for an injury rehab center or any professional use.”

He adds, “It’s crazy, but we’re already seeing 20-30 patients a day at the new office,” Mark says. “Of course, this office is twice the size of the one in Tampa Palms.”

New digs require new technology and there’s no doubt that Mark’s new office has the most incredible technology I’ve seen at a dentist’s office to date — and I’ve seen a few.

There is a digital X-ray machine that takes complete, 3D images of your mouth, jaw and all of your teeth in 4.8 seconds, with lower radiation than any traditional X-ray machine.

But, the most amazing thing to me at the new office was the new digital machine (above right) that can create custom-fitted molds of your mouth for braces or sleep apnea appliances without having to chomp down into trays covered with goop. I know I’ve choked on that goop before, so I wasn’t surprised when Mark told me that, “People throw up from the goop all the time. But, not only is the new machine easier for patients, the digitally-created molds we make are so much precise than the goop. And, with our new machine, it only takes a few minutes.”

Think You’ll Save Money With ‘Smile Direct?’ Think Again!

Mark and Dr. Rudy agree that orthodontists across the country currently are dealing with the public perception that it’s worth the initial lower investment to get invisible aligners from on-line companies like Candid and Smile Club Direct. But, they say people who choose that route for themselves or their children don’t understand how much having an experienced orthodontist not only create your appliances,  but make sure that everything is going according to plan by actually meeting with the patient every few weeks, is worth.

“Mark and I literally spend one day per week working with patients who have had bad experiences with online aligners,” Dr. Rudy says. “Having to fix a problem is much harder and costs more than coming to us first.”

In other words, if you want to transform your smile or your child’s, you should at least visit the new Farina Orthodontic Specialists office in Wesley Chapel.

And, if you like the analog clock on the side of the new building, you can thank Stefano Farina. “People remember a building with a clock on it,” he told his dad. “It’ll set you apart.”

Farina Orthodontic Specialists’ Wesley Chapel office is located at 2370 BBD Blvd., Ste. 100. For info, call (813) 964-3081 or visit FarinaSmiles.com. For the Tampa Palms office (15303 Amberly Dr., Ste. E), call (813) 972-2929 and please tell them the Neighborhood News sent you!

Nibble and Bytes

Song

Ty & Hildi Visit TPO

If you were a fan of the old “Trading Spaces” home improvement TV show on TLC (formerly The Learning Channel), you probably already realize that the show has made a triumphant return, after a 10-year hiatus.

On April 7, the day the new edition of the show debuted on TLC, “Trading Spaces” co-hosts/designers Ty Pennington and Hildi Santo Tomas (photo, above) appeared for several hours at the Tampa Premium Outlets, to the delight of hundreds of fans who got to get “up close & personal” with Ty and Hildi. A great get for TPO, to be sure.

For more information, search “Trading Spaces” on Facebook.

Cost Plus World Market Is Open!

Although most of the action in Wesley Chapel is centered around S.R. 56, I had no idea how much excitement there would be about the Grand Opening of Cost Plus World Market (5831 Wesley Grove Blvd.; photo above right) in The Grove shopping center off S.R. 54.

The store, which features furniture, décor and gift items, packaged/dry foods and wines, had already been open a few days when World Market hosted a North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on April 5, which was attended by hundreds of deal-seeking locals.

I’ll admit that I went there with no intention to purchase anything but came home with a half-case of assorted wines, two types of coffee (the World Market Italian Roast? Amazing!), World Market’s own truly delicious vodka spaghetti sauce and assorted unique chocolates. I even ended up joining the store’s savings club. So much for not buying anything, right?

For more info,  visit WorldMarket.com or call the WC store at (813) 371-2433.

Jake’s Pizza Opens In MP

In case you haven’t been on County Line Rd. in Meadow Pointe recently, Jake’s Pizza has opened in the end space in the plaza adjacent to the CVS Pharmacy. Two previous restaurants opened and closed in the space but Jake’s Pizza already seems to have something of a cult online following (maybe from its existing Palm Harbor location), as it serves St. Louis-style pizza. I had never heard of that before, but it appears to be similar to the thin-crust (not the deep dish) Chicago-style pizza, especially in terms of its thick red sauce, but with an incredibly crispy thin crust that’s hard for even a New Yorker to resist. I haven’t yet sampled what Jake’s calls New York-style crust, but there also is a gluten-free option.

Jake’s Pizza (30036 County Line Rd.) is open 11 a.m.-10 p.m. every weekday and until 11 p.m. on weekends. Jake’s serves a variety of appetizers, soups, salads, pastas, subs and desserts. For more information, call (813) 445-7070 or visit http://jakes.pizza.

SongCongrats, Mate…I Mean Mike!

Congratulations go out to my friends Mike and Sue Prenderville for the Grand Opening and two-Chamber ribbon cutting on Apr. 26 of the new location of Song Printing & Design, now located at 38514 5th Ave., in beautiful downtown Zephyrhills.

Both the Greater Zephyrhills and North Tampa Bay Chambers of Commerce brought scissors to the ribbon cutting, which was attended by more than 100 people, many of whom (we hear) stayed after the event ended to try a Song Printing IPA draught beer at the Zephyrhills Brewing Co., the 2018 Taste of New Tampa 2nd Place Peoples Choice Beverage winner, which is located directly next door. How convenient for our British friends, who can’t resist a pint themselves (especially Mike).

For more information, call (813) 715-2212 or visit SongPrinting.com. 

KAP Medical Group Celebrates Its Grand Opening

Congrats also go out to my friends Karina Azank Parilo, M.D., and her husband Dane Parilo, on the Apr. 25 Grand Opening of KAP Medical Group, located in the Windfair Professional Park behind the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel plaza, directly across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

Karina and Dane are long-time members of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (see story on page 19 of this issue) and she promises to provide traditional, affordable, concierge-style primary care medicine at her new practice.

In order to introduce her direct primary care practice (the first in our area) to the Wesley Chapel community, Dr. Azank Parilo is hosting a series of free Open House/Question & Answer events at the new office. The next one will be just a few days after you receive this issue in your mailbox — on Tuesday, May 8, 5 p.m.-7 p.m. — and it’s a great opportunity to meet Karina and her friendly staff and find out why direct primary care may be the right choice for you and your family in today’s crazy health insurance environment.

For more information about the Open House events or how the practice works, stop in at the office at 2615 Windguard Cir., Suite 101, call (813) 536-0050, visit KAPMedicalGroup.com or see the ad on pg. 38.

And, One More Pat On The Back…

Congratulations to my beautiful fiancé, Jannah McDonald, the marketing and events coordinator for the Pasco Education Foundation (PEF) — the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that supports Pasco County’s public schools — for putting on an amazing annual gala (formerly called the “Cinderella Ball”) at the beautiful Heritage Springs Country Club in the Trinity area of New Port Richey on April 7.

Although Jannah rightfully shares the credit with her boss, Stacey Capogrosso, and the rest of the PEF staff, this year’s gala surpassed last year’s fund-raising total by about $5,000 and Jannah secured WTVT-TV Fox 13 News anchors Linda Hurtado and Chris Cato to again emcee the event, as well as the Bus Stop Band (one of our favorites) to provide the evening’s entertainment.

PEF gave away $200,000 in scholarships to graduating students from all 13 Pasco high schools at its annual Scholarship Awards Banquet in April and Jannah also finds the time (after work) to help me get our invoices sent out every two weeks. Thanks, babe!

The Continuing Saga Of Our Own Wild Bill; Plus, A Kayaking Editor Update

Wild Bill Peterseim & Derrell Newell

A little more than three months ago, in our January 12 issue, I told you a little bit about the story of my friend, local karaoke legend Wild Bill Peterseim. The article gave a lot of information about a 70-something man who not only does a pretty good Elvis impersonation while doing pushups during the musical interludes of his (and other people’s) karaoke songs at O’Brien’s Irish Pub in the Wesley Chapel Village Market, but also of his  long business career and of him saving a man’s life at the Lexington Oaks clubhouse pool.

Lexington Oaks is the community where Bill lived with Linda, his beloved wife of 46 years, who passed away last year from an extremely rare form of melanoma and where the couple lived in the aftermath of Bill falling victim to a trusted business associate’s Ponzi scheme. Believe me, the above is the Reader’s Digest version of the story.

Since then, Bill has had the home in Lexington Oaks taken away from him by the bank in the aftermath of the Ponzi scheme (another really long, hard-to-explain story) and it was possible he would have to move to Winter Haven to live with one of his two daughters and her family.

Shortly after my article came out, Derrell Newell, another O’Brien’s karaoke regular who actually is a professional Elvis impersonator, informed Wild Bill that he was planning to perform a benefit concert at O’Brien’s to (at the time) try to keep Bill in his home.

That benefit was held in February and, more than 60 songs later — including about a dozen duets by Bill and Derrell — a total of $700 was raised, all of which was donated to help Wild Bill pay some bills.

About $160 of that total came from Bill’s new friend, local photographer and DJ Chuck Amstone, who read about the benefit in the Neighborhood News and contacted me to get involved in the fundraiser, even though he had only met Wild Bill once or twice before (Bill does have that effect on people).

Chuck brought his photo booth to the benefit and raised his money by asking people for donations for Bill when they took pictures in the booth during the show.

I give major props to both the charismatic Costco employee who prefers to be called “Elvis D” and to Chuck for stepping up big time for a friend.

Around the same time, Wild Bill’s financial picture became a little bit brighter when yours truly hired him as an office assistant. Even though I knew that Bill was overqualified for the job I hired him to do — organize my shambles of an office and the storage area next to our conference room — I also knew that this vibrant guy who is back to doing pushups on stage after a little bit of a health scare of his own would sink his teeth into it and do a spectacular job. And, he has exceeded my expectations. My only regret is not taking before-and-after pictures because no one who has spent any time at our “palatial” office would believe how organized the place is now.

So, the saga of Wild Bill continues. Come meet Bill, Derrell my fiancé Jannah and all of the other karaoke regulars at O’Brien’s on almost any Wednesday night. Gary Carmichael of Heart & Soul Karaoke is back and he has the greatest song list in creation, so whether you end up singing or not, I know you’ll feel like another member of our karaoke family.

If you’re looking to hire a Vegas-quality Elvis impersonator for your next event, Wild Bill and I both urge you to contact Derrell at (617) 909-0168. And, for all of your DJ/photography needs, call or text Chuck at (727) 215-4487.

This Guy…Is Still Kayaking?

So, if you haven’t watched the recent episode of WCNT-tv, where Susanna Martinez and I tell you how I did in the Sharkbite Challenge & Paddlefest off Honeymoon Island on April 14, I hope you’ll access our Neighborhood News Facebook page and watch it.

Here’s why: Two years ago, when I first entered this four-mile (more on that below) race, I did so in a kayak I borrowed from a friend and it just so happened that the Gulf of Mexico was extremely angry following a big storm that day. It was so bad that the organizers rescheduled the Saturday races for Sunday, where the winds were still 25-30 knots and the seas were 3-5 feet. I ended up flipping the kayak and swimming it to shore.

This time around, I went to check out Honeymoon Island a few days before the Challenge, and it was like deja vu. Even though I now have my own 18-foot-long surfski single kayak (I call it the “Neighborhood News/WCNT-tv Banana Boat”), the winds were whipping up to about 25 knots and I just couldn’t stay in the boat. Oh…and I recorded it all on a GoPro-style camera and showed a smidgen of it during the WCNT video. Pretty funny stuff.

Undaunted, I still returned to Honeymoon on the 14th and, with only 10-15 mph winds and much calmer seas, I finished the 3.5-mile (they did shorten the course because of the wind) Open Division race 61st of 92 finishers, in 58:14. It may not be the feel-good story of the year, but it did make me feel pretty good about myself, despite the fact that others in my age group beat me by more than 20 minutes.

Chuy’s Tex-Mex Is The Latest Chain Restaurant To Open On S.R. 56

While I agree that Chuy’s Tex-Mex, which opened on April 24 on the north side of S.R. 56 (across from the Tampa Premium Outlets) is a cool-looking, fun place, following my first two visits to the Tex-Mex favorite of many of our readers (who previously had to go as far as Orlando to enjoy it), I’m still searching for my favorite dish at Chuy’s.

The bar area is a little smallish, but bright and cheery and some of the space is taken up by a very cool-looking 1950s-era chips & salsa-loaded car that Elvis himself might have driven and, speaking of Elvis, he is big at Chuy’s, where his birthday in January is celebrated every year with an Elvis impersonator (see page 3 for the local impersonator who should probably get the gig at our Chuy’s location).

Although I thought the loaded nachos and chicken flautas that came as part of the appetizer combo platter were excellent, I wasn’t thrilled with my chicken and steak combo fajitas (photo below left), as both were overcooked, although several people I spoke with after the VIP pre-opening event on April 23 said I should give the fajitas another try because theirs were excellent.

Chuy’s Tex-Mex is located at 25750 Sierra Center Blvd. For more info, call (813) 948-2211 or visit Chuys.com.