Author: Gary Nager

900° Woodfired Pizza Wiregrass — Try It For The Pasta, Too!

Do you crave great pasta living here in Wesley Chapel? I know I do. I can enjoy the pasta at most local pizza places, but you’d be making a big mistake if you were to confuse the made-to-order pasta at 900° Woodfired Pizza, which is located next to Orangetheory Fitness in the Shops at Wiregrass mall, with anyplace else.

Owner Steve Falabella — who can trace his roots back to Italy but who was raised in New York and is a die-hard Yankees fan (as a Tampa Bay Rays fan, I definitely won’t hold that against him, especially when we finish ahead of “dem bums from da Bronx” this season) — appreciates the way I talk about his pizza and pasta, but especially the pasta.

The sauces on the pasta are so good, including the featured Tortellini della Casa above, which is spinach-and-cheese-filled tortellini in a sautéed tomato sauce with black olives, chopped garlic and fresh spinach; the penne with pesto Genovese and grilled chicken; and the veal and beef tortellacci (oversized, overstuffed, beef & veal-filled pasta pockets in a classic Bolognese meat sauce).

One thing I love is how 900° Woodfired never oversauces the sizable, reasonably-priced portions of always-al-denté (without asking for it) pasta. Just as you’d find in authentic Italian restaurants from Naples to New York, the bowls glisten with what’s left of the sauces, rather than leaving behind a whole bowlful of sauce. I love dipping, say, 900° Woodfired’s homemade garlic knots, in flavorful sauces as much as the next guy, but pasta should never be swimming in sauce — or overcooked.

The penne with pesto Genovese and chicken is actually a “Create Your Own Pasta,” which can be spaghetti, penne or tagliatelle (long, flat ribbon pasta, similar to fettuccine) and gluten-free also is available, with your choice of five sauces — pomodoro (classic tomato), Bolognese (meat), Alfredo (butter and cream), pesto Genovese (basil and pine nuts) or rustica (Bolognese with chopped shitake mushrooms and garlic). I can vouch for all but the rustica,

Don’t They Have Pizza, Too?

You got ‘dat right! I love the fact that 900° Woodfired Pizza has not only excellent traditional New York-style ‘za, but also the woodfired Neapolitan style and even a not-to-be-confused-with- Sicilian-style Grandma pizza that Steve says is really a pizza “made backwards. The fresh garlic and onions are baked into the (rectangular) crust, then covered with fresh mozzarella and garlicky tomato sauce.” You have to at least try it.

And, although no super-thin-crusted woodfired pizza will ever be my favorite, you have to appreciate the quality ingredients Steve and his happy, dedicated crew use to create these flash-baked pizzas.

“We make the mozzarella for the woodfired pizzas here every day,” he says proudly.

There’s also “Create Your Own Pizzas,” where some customers get really creative, pizza by the metre and (of course) by the slice — but it’s almost too many options for a true pizza lover like me.

Of course, 900° Woodfired has other great items available, including a variety of great salads — from a slightly spicy Caesar to the unique Insalata della Casa, which combines spring mix, cherry tomatoes, thick slices of fresh mozzarella and marinated grilled eggplant in yummy balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

There’s also calzones, baked lasagne, foccaccia bread and great antipasti (appetizers) like Il Gran Piatto, a big plate full of authentic Italian meats, plus fresh mozzarella, olives and roasted peppers. There’s also a fried ravioli appetizer, a zesty bruschetta, fried calamari, mozzarella sticks and even a great kids’ menu. And yes, catering is definitely a specialty, too.

There’s even Peroni Italian beer on draft, as well as a variety of bottles beers and wines by the glass and by the litre-size carafe.

Although I’m usually too full to enjoy dessert at 900° Woodfired Pizza, there’s also an impressive variety of dessert pizzas and other option, many featuring Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread, although I have enjoyed the New York-style cheesecake (go figure), double chocolate layer cake and even the Granny apple crisp.

So, the next time you’re at the Wiregrass mall, whether at lunch or dinner time, stop in at 900° Woodfired Pizza and tell Steve and his crew that the Neighborhood News guy sent you!

For more info about 900° Woodfired Pizza (28152 Paseo Dr., open seven days for lunch and dinner at 11 a.m.), call 527-6940, or visit onljne at 900DegreesWoodfirePizza.com or Facebook.

Our Biggest Post Ever & Other Exciting News

So, first, the BIG news. After two years in a row of winning the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Adult Spelling Bee, yours truly reverted to his usual choking-in-spelling-bees ways, as the Neighborhood News Horrific Spellers finished in a tie for about 10th (of 23 teams) on Apr. 8, when “Kount Drakyoula” himself (see photo below, courtesy of OurTownFla.com, of one of the 20+ words we spelled correctly) misspelled the word “onomatopoeia” (I spelled it “onamotopoeia”… missed it by thatmuch). The two sad facts were that:

1) I believe our team was the only one to spell all 20 words correctly during the first two rounds of this year’s bee (held again at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club in San Antonio), when you can “bribe” your way back into the competition by paying $10 (we got to trade in our prepurchased bribes, which you can not use in the third round) for non-winning raffle tickets) — thanks again to another couple of great assists on medical words from my teammate, event co-chair Karina Azank, M.D..

2) I actually practiced that word only a couple of hours before the event and really thought I remembered it correctly. Old age?

It was still a great event to benefit the Pasco Education Foundation and the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon Fund (our club’s nonprofit foundation)…and hey, even the Golden State Warriors didn’t win them all this year.

And The ‘Magic’ Continues…

GarykayakWEB The photo was the happiest I was the day after the Spelling Bee, as the organizers of the 13th annual Sharkbite Challenge off Honeymoon Island in Dunedin called off the “official” race on Apr. 9 due to high winds (20-30 knots) and seas (3-4-ft. waves).

I did return to the Dunedin Causeway the next day, when the winds were down to 10-15 knots and the waves down to 2-3-ft., but I never quite finished the 4-mile race, at least not without swimming the kayak about a half-mile to shore after a wave knocked me out of it. It’s a long, crazy story (to which my fellow WC Rotarians can attest), but I’m still planning to do another race soon…just not without the proper kayak. Most of the 100+ competitors at the race I didn’t finish were in sleek 14-18-ft. composite racing kayaks that look like Olympic sculls. I was in a borrowed, 9-ft. plastic kayak that I now realize I was probably lucky to be able to swim to shore.

Lucky? Heck yeah. After all, no one else at the race did a marine biathlon that day, right?

OK, Here’s Some Actual News…

Until Apr. 7, the single “biggest” post we ever had on our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page was viewed about 28,000 times, with about 4,000 click-throughs to read the actual story on our website.

But, Apr. 7 was the day we posted the map on page 12 of this issue, which shows what’s both officially coming and rumored to be coming to the area around the Tampa Premium Outlets mall off S.R. 56.

The map was on page 1 of our Wesley Chapel issue the following day, but it already had created a record stir (for us, of course) when it received 63,000+ views on our Facebook page — more than doubling our previous best — and an even more staggering 51,000+ click-throughs to our NTNeighborhoodNews.com website! That’s more than 12 times the number of people who had clicked through to our site in any single day!

The second map — of the area near our office on S.R. 54 near I-75 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel — was no slouch, either, although it “only” garnered 18,200+ page views and a few thousand click-throughs to our site.

What’s WCNT-TV?…

It’s the fun and informative web-based “TV” magazine show all about Wesley Chapel (WC) and New Tampa (NT) that’s launching soon. I can’t tell you much about it just yet, other than it’s a joint venture between yours truly and Full Throttle Intermedia (FTIntermedia.com), in association with the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

What’s New And Still Coming To Wesley Chapel? A Whole Lot!

WCMapCypressCreekCenter Just when you thought the Wesley Chapel area couldn’t handle any more growth, here we come with two shiny new maps showing as close to everything that’s currently either in or rumored to be in development in and around zip codes 33543, 33544 and 33545.

On this page is a map of the area (mainly) between I-75 and Old Cypress Creek Rd., which shows the ongoing development of the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact (DRI), as well as a possible new development directly to the west of the Walgreens and Shell gas station off S.R. 54, just west of where it meets S.R. 56 and Old Cypress Creek Rd.

And, heck yeah, it’s a lot of exciting “stuff”, especially if you’re looking for new places to eat (and who isn’t?).

In addition to the eateries we’ve previously told you about — including the recently opened Culver’s of Wesley Chapel and the nearly-completed Cheddar’s — the long-awaited Chick-fil-A has gone vertical between Culver’s and Cheddars. Further west of Culver’s, a Panda Express Fast Casual Chinese is getting ready to build just west of the corner of Grand Preserve Dr. and S.R. 56 (in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets mall, or TPO).

Three more restaurants are being added (and all are somewhere in the development process) east of the intersection of the new Grand Cypress Dr. and S.R. 56 — BJ’s Brew-house, McDonald’s and Longhorn Steakhouse. And, directly across S.R. 56 from Longhorn are a planned Pollo Tropical and a possible Ford’s Garage.

Further west on that north side of S.R. 56 (in the “Regency Shopping Center,” although the entire center still has to be called “rumored” here because no agreements were finalized at our press time) is a possible Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers.

Speaking of these “rumored” projects, Lisa McCaffrey — the managing director of retail services for Colliers International (which is managing much of the property located north of S.R. 56 between Wesley Chapel Blvd. and I-75) — told me a week after this map appeared on our website (on Apr. 7) and in our Wesley Chapel issue (which hit on Apr. 8) that there may be some inaccuracies in what we’re showing as “rumored” here, although she said she “couldn’t confirm or deny any of them.”

She added, however, that, “We should be able to make some official announcements soon.” The information about the parcels marked as “rumored” were put together by our editorial department through our contacts with local officials and business people who were shown (some even had copies of) the site plans for these parcels.

As for non-restaurants in this area, Costco Wholesale is a go behind Culver’s and east of the outlet mall, although rumor has it that the 100,000-sq.-ft. Cabela’s World’s Foremost Outfitters may no longer be coming to the area, but again, we were not able to confirm that rumor at our press time.

As I also mentioned above, we can not yet confirm whether or not the entire 240,000-sq.-ft. Regency Shopping Center — which also could be home to a 50,000-sq.-ft. Kohl’s department store and a (likely “green”) 28,000-sq.-ft grocery store, as well as a couple of other possible free-standing or connected outparcels along S.R. 56. — is actually happening.

And, although even those with the broadest definitions of what is “in” Wesley Chapel would call anything west of the Walgreens and Shell on the map “Lutz,” there is another fairly large project located just west of those businesses, although (for now), the 32-acre “Brightwork Crossing” project is rumored to include another 115,000 sq. ft. of commercial space, 100 hotel rooms and 350 multi-family units if and when it officially comes online.

FHCI Coming Soon!

And of course, we’ll also keep you updated on the sprawling Florida Hospital Center Ice complex, located just east of I-75 on the north side of S.R. 56, which will be completed later this year, as well as the adjacent Holiday Inn Express Hotel.

Located just west of I-75 in this area are two more rumored projects — a multi-family development of 230 units and a Hyatt Place hotel, although we were unable to get confirmation and at least one source said they weren’t sure “that the Hyatt was still in play.”

Of course, we’ll keep you posted in these pages and at NTNeighborhoodNews.com about any further developments on any of these projects.

Big Growth Coming To Wiregrass And S.R. 54 too

WCMapWiregrassRanchWeb3 The other area where things are really clicking is the Wiregrass Ranch DRI, the 5,000+-acre tract located east of BBD, south of S.R. 54 and straddling both sides of S.R. 56. Wiregrass Ranch today has the being-expanded Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (see story on pg. 4), the Shops at Wiregrass mall, Pasco-Hernando State College, Wiregrass Ranch High, John Long Middle School (and the set-to-open-next-year Wiregrass Elementary), the already-being-expanded North Tampa Behavioral Health and upscale homes in communities like Estancia and The Ridge.

But, what’s still to come in Wiregrass Ranch is what’s really exciting. We only had room in this issue to run one map of the northern portion of the Wiregrass Ranch, where the Porter Family and the Dowd Companies (a West Palm Beach-based developer with experience throughout the southeastern U.S., including several of the projects in Wiregrass Ranch) are actually in the process of starting development on two projects — the Wiregrass Shops on S.R. 54 (which is shown on this map) and the Wiregrass Commons on S.R. 56 (which is not shown here, but will be shown in our May 20 issue).

The Dowd Companies website (TheDowdCompanies.com) says that the Wiregrass Ranch DRI will be home to:

•More than 27,000 Residents

•6,947 New Single Family Homes

•3,526 New Multi Family Homes

•2,720,800 sq. ft. of New Retail Space

•2,000,000 sq. ft. of New Office Space

•600,000 sq. ft. of New Medical Space

•300,000 sq. ft. of New Recreational Space

•600 New Hotel Rooms

•New 18 hole golf course

•3 New Elementary Schools

•New County Park

•New Sheriff’s Office

•New Pasco County Fire Station

•Possible Rail or Rapid Transit Line

With Stops from Tampa

•Park & Ride Stop

•Planned new 581/Bruce B Downs Bypass Road to connect BBD to Wiregrass Ranch Blvd & the Walmart off S.R. 54

•6 Stop Lights on SR 56 between BBD & Meadow Pointe Blvd.

The Wiregrass Shops on S.R. 54 will be home to the relocated Publix supermarket currently in the Hollybrook Plaza on S.R. 54 at BBD, and other new retail establishments that had not yet been announced at our press time. The plaza will be 12,600-sq.-ft, with spaces starting at 1,200 sq. ft. The Dowd website says the plaza is expected to open in the “Spring of 2016,” but considering that nothing has gone vertical on the property yet, that seems more than a tad ambitious.

The delay may be due to the ongoing discussions about the planned 581/BBD Bypass Road, which has existing businesses on BBD south of S.R 54 concerned about how they will survive if the thousands of cars that normally drive past their location on their way to turn onto 54 headed east or west will be diverted to the Bypass, a half mile south of their location.

The good news is that JD Porter of the Porter Family and Dowd President & CEO John Dowd, III, will be the featured speakers at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC)’s Economic Development Briefing on Thursday, April 28, 11:30 a.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., off BBD).

WCCC CEO Hope Allen, who helped me get some of the information for the maps in this story, says Dowd and Porter are expected to talk about both the Wiregrass Shops on SR 54 and the Wiregrass Commons on SR 56, as well as some of the other plans for the DRI. And of course, we’ll be attending that meeting, in case you can’t go.

SR 54, East & West Of I-75

Also indicated on the map on this page east of I-75 is a new Chase Bank that is being built between Chili’s and the Bank of America, a rumored Popeye’s Chicken on land between the existing Wesley Chapel Village Market and I-75, as well as the now-confirmed location of Lexus of Wesley Chapel, which will be built by the Williams Group next to the Williams-owned Toyota of Wesley Chapel.

And, west of I-75, you’ll find the location of the Aldi grocery store, which is beginning development shortly off Oakley Blvd., behind the Shell gas station/Circle K on 54. Also indicated, across from The Grove shopping center (behind the Sleep Inn), is the recently announced 40,000-sq.-ft. FreeFall Zone entertainment complex, which according to developer Craig Patel, will include trampolines, laser tag, rock climbing wall, bumper cars, arcade games, party rooms and food concessions.

Please let us know what you think!

Ginza Endless Sushi Opens Next To Winn-Dixie!

If you haven’t yet tried the new Ginza Endless Asian Cuisine & Sushi, located at 6417 E. County Line Rd. at Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the Trout Creek area (between the Winn-Dixie supermarket and LA Fitness), we definitely suggest you give it a try.

Ginza’s all-you-can-eat specials cost just $12.95 per adult for lunch and $24.95 per adult for dinner and that price includes all you care to eat of literally dozens of items — from fresh sashimi and sushi to hibachi-style chicken, shrimp or steak and even favorites like Mongolian chicken (photo, shown with a side of fried rice) and beef and so many more.

At our press time, Ginza still did not have its liquor license, but the freshly prepared food and fast service make it more than worthy of a visit until that happens, which should be sometime in April, according to a restaurant employee. And, with the coupons in our latest New Tampa edition and the upcoming Wesley Chapel edition hitting mailboxes on Friday, it’s an even better value!