Congrats go out to Christos Paradisis and Colleen Gallagher, who recently opened the new Sausage King in the former location of TJ’s Hot Dogs at the KRATE Container Park.
Although we also enjoyed TJ’s, Sausage King not only has a greater variety of tasty options, Chris also grills his hot dogs, sweet and hot Italian sausages and Polska kielbasas, and Sausage King is already attracting new fans.
I can vouch for the foot-long hot dog with spicy brown mustard and sauerkraut (left photo), as well as the sweet Italian sausage sandwich with grilled onions and peppers. I also enjoyed the crispy fried mozzarella sticks with house-made marinara dipping sauce.
Chris, who moved to this area from his native Greece, says the marinara is his “mama’s own recipe.” Colleen, who is from Philadelphia, says their goal for Sausage King is to remind folks of the flavors they love from back home in the Northeast. For more info, search “Sausage King” on Facebook.
The “Holiday Bird” plate. (Photos by Charmaine George).
Although I’m pretty sure that even most of you non-beer drinkers have at least heard of Yuengling beer, you may or may not realize that Yuengling is the oldest brewery in America. It was established in 1829, when David G. Yuengling arrived from Wuerttemberg, Germany, to settle in the sleepy, coal-mining town of Pottsville, PA.
And, even though a fire completely destroyed Dick’s original brewery on Centre. St., the newer brewery built on Mahantongo St. in Pottsville in 1831 is still the site of the oldest brewery in the U.S.
With demand for its beers growing, the Yuengling family, led by David’s great-great grandson Dick Yuengling, Jr. (who first took over ownership of the brewery in 1985) purchased the former Stroh’s brewery on N. 30th St. (south of Fowler Ave.) in 1999.
For most of the time that Yuengling has owned the brewery in Tampa, there was only a small tasting room to sample the different beers the brewery brewed and sold.
Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen Executive Chef Sean Eckman (left) and VP of Hospitality Brent Wertz.
VP of hospitality Brent Wertz, says that changed in 2020, when the Yuengling family became part of Tampa Innovation, a group that includes most of the major businesses in North Tampa (including USF, Busch Gardens, the Moffitt Cancer Center and AdventHealth Tampa) and was seeking to modernize this area. That was the year the Yuengling family began working on opening what is now called the Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen, a 42,000-sq.-ft. building with a 1.5-acre outdoor patio area.
The Draft Haus, which opened under Wertz’s leadership in June of this year, offers unique chef-created food and 11 of the 12 Yuengling brews available to go with the beer-inspired menu. The Draft Haus also is home to the First Brew coffee bar and Mayday Ice Cream concession stand, as well as a 100 (or so)-seat private banquet hall and the coming-soon Brewhouse Bistro, located on the outdoor patio, which will feature its own menu to be compatible with the patio’s cornhole and other outdoor games and entertainment.
Bring On The Food!
Wertz, who has spent his entire 30-year career in the food and beverage departments of 4- and 5-star resorts (most recently with Hershey Park in Hershey, PA), says that the menu created by the Draft Haus & Kitchen’s executive chef Sean Eckman (whose previous experience also is mainly at top-level resorts, including The Inn on Biltmore Estate in Asheville, NC) is not only designed to pair with beer, but many of the food recipes also include different Yuengling beers.
Our editor’s favorite potato-crusted Gulf snapper at the Yuengling Draft Haus on N. 30th St. in Tampa. (Photo by: Gary Nager).
For example, my favorite item at the Draft Haus is the potato-crusted Gulf snapper, which sits on a bed of mac & beer cheese, served with white BBQ slaw and mayo-ketchup tartar sauce, and is made to pair with the Yuengling Traditional Lager or Golden Pilsner.
“We change the menu every couple of months,” Wertz says, “right now, we have a few holiday-themed menu items.”
My favorite among those new items is the “Holiday Bird,” a crispy buttermilk fried chicken breast atop a giant scoop of skin-on redskin mashed potatoes and “Grandma-style” brown gravy, It’s served with two crispy waffles that are made from tasty stuffing and topped with a zesty cranberry relish.
“We actually pour the stuffing into a waffle maker,” Wertz says. “It’s perfect for those who like the crisp edges of stuffing from the oven.”
The new “Colors of Christmas” salad.
I also really enjoyed the “Colors of Christmas” salad — with mixed greens, goat cheese, pomegranate, orange sections, wassail vinaigrette and topped with crispy onions — and the “Tampa Style Pulled Pork” sandwich, which features shredded mojo-roasted pork shoulder on a toasted brioche bun, topped with beer cheese and white BBQ slaw and crispy onions.
And, although I don’t love mushrooms, photographer Charmaine George said she loved the new “Fungi Burger,” which features two smash burger-style patties on a garlic butter croissant, with truffle hop aioli, marinated ‘shrooms and fontina and gruyere cheeses. I can vouch for the other burgers, as the “YDH&K Cheeseburger,” with American cheese, pork jam, house-made 1000 Island dressing, dill pickles and lettuce, tomato & onion on a Kaiser bun, is another of my favorite Draft Haus items.
The “Tampa Style Pulled Pork” sandwich.
Wertz says, “We also feature traditional food items most beer drinkers love — like ‘Mrs. T’s’ Pierogies (served with beer cheese), ‘DIY Deviled Eggs’ (made with beer mustard) and ‘Black & Tan Chili Cheese Fries’ — and items like YDH&K ‘Signature Lobster Bisque,’ a grilled turkey paillard club sandwich and smoked Angus short ribs.”
The holiday dessert manu includes a super-unique “Gingerbread Whoopie Pie Cake,” made with an eggnog ganache.
We complemented our meal with a “Try ‘Em All Flight,” with 6-oz. samples of all ten brews currently available at the Draft Haus — the Traditional and Light Lagers, Golden Pilsner, Flight (light), Bongo (mango) Fizz, Lord Chesterfield Ale, Dark-Brewed Porter, Yuengling Premium, Hershey’s Chocolate Porter and my favorite — the Black & Tan. Charmaine raved about the Bongo Fizz Mango Mojito “Hop-Tail,” with muddled lime, clapped mint, cane syrup and mango purée. And, while Wertz says there is no plan to add hard alcohol, there are a few canned wines available.
The “Gingerbread Whoopie Pie Cake.
After lunch, I picked up a tasty vanilla latté at First Brew and a six pack of Black & Tan at the retail store (every Yuengling beer is for sale there), which also has lots of Yuengling-branded clothing and gift items. We’ll go back to check out the outdoor patio when the Brewhouse Bistro opens next month.
The Yuengling Draft Haus & Kitchen (11109 N. 30th St.) is closed Tues.-Wed., but is open 4 p.m.-10 p.m. on Mon. & Thur., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. & 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 488-6444, visit Yuengling.com.
The Draft Haus’ huge retail store. The private 100-seat banquet room at the Draft Haus is available for your private parties beginning in January., as it is booked through Dec.The variety of “Hop-Tails” at the Draft Haus. (Photo by: Yuengling Draft Haus)
Chris & Lee Alley (under the sign) and their entire staff at Colorful Nails in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54 provide manicures, pedicures and nail art, as well as waxing and eyelash volume and extension services. (Photos by Charmaine George)
If you’re in the market for a new nail salon, be sure to check out Colorful Nails, located in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54. Open since February of this year, after taking over for a previous nail salon (KS Nails), Colorful Nails is a completely rebranded nail salon with comfortable seating, elegant decor and new staff.
The salon offers acrylic, gel, Gel-X and dip powder nails, manicures, pedicures, nail art and designs, waxing (including eyebrow, lips, Brazilian and legs) and eyelash volume and extension treatments.
Colorful Nails is the vision of husband-wife owners Chris and Giau (she goes by Lee) Alley. Before she worked on nails, Lee, a native of Vietnam, worked for Carnival Cruise Line for eight years and in fact, it was on a cruise ship where she first met Chris.
“Four years ago, when Chris and I met, he asked me to take a chance,” shares Lee. “Come back to the US with me and let’s build a good, beautiful life together.”
Lee left the cruise business to be with Chris and they moved to Wesley Chapel, where they are building that life together with their 15-month-old son Conner.
In a new country — and on land full-time — Lee was ready to learn a new business. She befriended a fellow Vietnamese neighbor, who introduced her to the nail business and helped her get started with an introductory nail class. She then worked for a few different salons in the area to gain experience.
Now, even as an owner and lead technician of her own nail salon, Lee is still passionate about learning all she can about her craft. She has taken eyelash extension and nail design classes and loves to watch online videos to keep up with the latest in nail art.
“Lee is always trying to learn new things,” Chris says. “She spends about an hour a day watching YouTube tutorials on nail designs and techniques.”
Chris, who has experience in the restaurant business and in information technology (IT), assists Lee with the “back end” of the business, such as managing the software used at the salon, Colorful Nails’ website and the salon’s finances. But, he says Lee is really the face of Colorful Nails.
“Lee is modest, but I can say that she treats every customer like a family member,” says Chris. “Her background of working on cruises helps her emphasize excellent customer service, using high-quality products and delivering a satisfying experience for everyone.”
Of course, Lee can’t do it alone. She has eight wonderful staff members who have a mix of Vietnamese and Hispanic backgrounds, so you can hear English, Spanish and Vietnamese all spoken at Colorful Nails.
“If a customer or nail technician is more comfortable speaking in Spanish or Vietnamese, we all help each other out to make sure that the communication is clear,” Lee says.
The Latest In Gel Nails
While manicures, pedicures and nail designs are always popular at Colorful Nails, one option that is gaining attention with the salon customers is Gel-X.
Chris says that Gel-X is an alternative to acrylic nail extensions. Instead of using glue, a special extension gel is used to apply fake gel-based nails of your desired shape and length to your natural nails. Since the fake nails are made of gel, they are thinner and more flexible than acrylic nails and the removal process is gentler on your natural nails.
“I like to tell my customers about Gel-X because not all of them know about it,” Lee says. “Those who try it have given me good feedback about how nice it feels and that it lasts for 3-4 weeks.”
“(I) absolutely love Lee and Colorful Nails!,” shares Rose Connell, a regular at the salon. “It’s a beautiful place and the people are all so kind. And, of course, they do quality work, I’ve always been satisfied with my nails. I used to drive to there from Ocala because Lee is so amazing. I wouldn’t go anywhere else.”
Meanwhile, Loretta Hernandez, another Colorful Nails customer, says, “Jasmin and Caridad are both awesome and the owner, Lee, is very sweet and concerns herself with her clients’ happiness. It’s not about rushing to get to the next client as fast as possible. They give you the attention you deserve. The more I go, the more I enjoy the place. Everyone is friendly, and wonderful.”
The holiday season is a perfect time to visit Colorful Nails. Get a mani, pedi and some beautiful holiday nail designs — then buy gift cards to give to friends and family as gifts/stocking stuffers. The salon is currently offering a promotion on gift cards — buy a $100 gift card for only $90. Also, you will receive 10% off the regular price on services if you visit Colorful Nails anytime on Monday-Wednesday, as well as on your birthday.
Colorful Nails is located at 30036 S.R. 54. The salon is open Mon.-Fri., 9:30 a.m.-7 p.m., 9:30 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sat, and 11 a.m.- 5 p.m. on Sun. For appointments or more information, call (813) 501-4297, visit ColorfulNailsSalon.com.
Chris Assefa, the founder of Bleu Sky’s Insurance Solutions, has more than 20 years of experience in the insurance industry and helps her clients (right) navigate the complexities of Medicare & health insurance. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Chris Assefa has been in the insurance industry for more than 20 years, and one thing she knows for sure is that insurance — especially when it comes to health insurance and Medicare — can be very confusing for those without her experience.
“Our mantra is helping, resolving and relieving one person at a time,” she says.
Chris, a former Wesley Chapel resident, founded Bleu Sky’s Insurance Solutions in 2019.
She is an insurance broker whose license, regulated by the Florida Department of Finance, allows her to sell life insurance, health insurance and variable annuities anywhere in the state. She also is licensed in Georgia and New York.
While her license allows her to do many things, she chooses to focus on Medicare and private health care plans.
Chris says she currently spends most of her time educating people about Medicare.
“What does it mean to have Medicare?,” she asks. “What are the different parts, what do they cover and what do they not cover? And, what are your options if you don’t stay on just original Medicare?”
She says sometimes people think they can figure all of this out on their own, but she says it’s really too confusing and things change too often for someone to try to navigate the Medicare system without objective, professional help.
In fact, she says that some of the confusion comes from the abundant commercials and other marketing tactics that try to convince people to choose one Medicare plan over another.
Chris’s advice is to go to an insurance broker who is unbiased and knowledgeable in helping you choose the plan that will be best for you.
“You need someone familiar with the territory and the landscape,” she says.
She would love for you to consider picking up the phone to give her a call.
“It doesn’t matter to me which carrier or plan you go with,” Chris explains. “I’m a consultant who can help you figure out which of the carriers and products can best meet your needs.”
She works to build long-term relationships with her clients so that, year after year, when the open enrollment period comes along, she can help each person choose the exact product that’s best for them at that time, too.
At each point, people have different needs, and the plans from carriers such as Florida Blue, Humana, Cigna, United Healthcare and others will change, as well.
Getting Started Here
When Chris first moved to Florida from New York, she moved to Wesley Chapel and lived in Lexington Oaks. She’s still close with several neighbors there, who are friends and also refer their friends to her.
That’s how Wesley Chapel resident Laura Margoli first met Chris.
“When I retired from banking last year, I called Chris to help me with my Medicare,” says Laura. “It’s very confusing, even for an educated person, because there’s so much going on, so many options and so many things to consider.”
Laura says she has been impressed with Chris’s expertise and how well she explains information.
“She also calls back to make sure you understand and see if you need anything else,” Laura says. “It’s old school-style customer service. And, she’s friendly and has a great personality.”
Laura also says that Chris is very accommodating and is happy to come to you for appointments.
Chris says that’s her typical way of meeting with clients. She’ll meet you in your home or wherever is most convenient for you, although she’s happy to have you come to her office in West Tampa, if that’s what you prefer.
Chris says that giving back to the West Tampa community, which has a lot of needs, is very important to her.
“I do a monthly food pantry here,” she says. She also is registered as an “access partner” through the Florida Department of Children and Families (DCF), so that members of the community can make an appointment for her to help them apply for food stamps and Medicaid.
Understanding Medicare
Medicare is typically for those ages 65 years old or older, as well as for those who have a disability.
Chris says that you shouldn’t wait until you turn 65 to really learn about how Medicare works.
“You want to be educated before, when you’re about 63,” she says. “Many people believe they’re going to have comprehensive coverage, but that’s not (always) the truth.”
The open enrollment period for Medicare ended Dec. 7, and the policies become effective in January. At that time, there is another period where changes can be made under the “Medicare Advantage” open enrollment period.
Chris says that you can call her anytime, not just during open enrollment.
“Maybe I can help you, maybe I can’t,” she says, “but I’m still happy to give you advice.”
Then, whenever it is time to make a change, she’ll know what you need and will be able to get you in the right plan with the right carrier.
Health Care
There are many people who don’t qualify for Medicare but who still need health insurance. While some receive insurance through their employers, anyone who is self-employed or needs to purchase their own insurance can do so with the help of Bleu Sky’s Insurance Solutions.
Chris says these plans go by many names, including Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans, Obamacare, or Health Insurance Marketplace.
All these names refer to the same plans, which are regulated by the federal government.
“Especially if you’re self-employed, let’s have that conversation to give you peace of mind,” says Chris. “You just never know what you might learn.”
She says the open enrollment period for these plans ends January 15.
“There’s no cost to an individual to talk with me,” Chris explains. “And every conversation I have with people shows them — and me — that they need (someone like) me.”
Laura agrees.
“Chris is super knowledgeable,” Laura says. “She would have made a great teacher. I highly recommend her.”
For more info about Bleu Sky’s Insurance Solutions, visit BleuSkysInsurance.com, call Chris at (813) 360-1884.
Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Family Nurse Practitioner Karma Nguyen and her Defining Beauty Wellness & Med Spa are located in the New Tampa Professional Park in Pebble Creek, off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (Photos by Charmaine George)
Many of us want little touch-ups to our look and some are even ready for a total body transformation. But, when there are so many different products, lasers and injectables out there, where do you begin? Karma Nguyen can help you. She is the owner of Defining Beauty Wellness & Med Spa in the New Tampa Professional Park off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Pebble Creek and her education as an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse-Family Nurse Practitioner (APRN-FNP) makes her well-qualified to educate and administer the latest image-improving treatments.
You may have gotten a facial before, but Defining Beauty has five options for facial skin care. If you have facial hair or acne, no problem. Men, women and teens can receive personalized facials from Karma with recommendations for daily skin maintenance care afterwards. The spa is also known for offering HydraFacial™, a facial performed using a device with a vacuum-like effect to cleanse, moisturize, and brighten the skin. You also can get a PRX Derm Perfexion or PRX-T33 facial, microneedling with or without plasma-rich protein derived from your own blood, or chemical peels with superficial, medium, or deep skin activity.
Are you interested in IV infusions? Karma offers more than a dozen different IV therapies that offer specific combinations of vitamins, minerals and amino acids for different needs, including hydration, mental health, athletic recovery and performance.
With all of these specialized treatments, it is often recommended or required to receive them from a licensed professional only. Thankfully, Karma has been a licensed nurse since 2003. She obtained her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN) and Master of Science in Nursing (MSN) degrees through a combination of online coursework and on-site clinical rotations, from Chamberlain University, based in Chicago, IL. After graduating with her MSN degree, Karma became an APRN.
Karma says that one of her clinical rotations exposed her to the work of an aesthetic nurse. That sparked her interest in aesthetic treatments and since then, she has traveled to New York, Texas and different parts of Florida to obtain additional certifications, including her national certification as an FNP through the American Association of Nurse Practitioners (AANP), as well as hands-on training in aesthetic techniques before opening Defining Beauty in July 2021. Dr. Binu Jacob, M.D. is the med spa’s medical director.
“Every person has a different anatomy and wants to achieve a different look,” Karma says. “To get pronounced, versus subtle results, it is important to know the different ways to inject or apply products and devices.”
When it comes to cosmetic needs like wrinkles, sagging skin, hair removal and restoration, or medical conditions like acne, psoriasis and rosacea, there are many laser and injectable treatments available that can help. In order to decide the best option for your needs, you need a specialist who will be honest about each one’s pros and cons.
Before providing any treatment, Karma performs a thorough consultation with each client to understand their current state of health, address their skin care or body concerns and figure out what they hope to achieve.
“Often there are different options for various skin care or body goals,” she says. “I go over the options with the patient to see their comfort level and interest. And, most important is that I am open with my patients so they have realistic expectations. You can’t achieve surgical-type results without surgery, but I can let you know what you can reasonably expect.”
Do Your Research
Karma says she appreciates patients who like to do their own research. On Defining Beauty’s website (see link below), there is a detailed Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section for each proprietary laser (Neo Elite®, Lumecca IPL, and Morpheus8) and injectable product (Botox®, Juvederm®, Kybella®, Ozempic® and more) she uses. This is really helpful to answer your basic questions including what to expect, who should and should not receive treatment, the possible risks, side effects and recovery period for each treatment and how long you can expect your results to last.
After reviewing the different options, Karma will develop a patient-specific treatment plan and schedule a treatment session that same day or, if more time is needed, within the next few days.
Karma, who lives in New Tampa with her mom Lucy and youngest son Kevin (a high school senior), does her best to accommodate patients by offering weekend and evening appointments.
Kimberly Clawson (photos below) is a Defining Beauty patient who speaks highly of Karma’s professionalism, expertise and flexibility.
Defining Beauty patient Kimberly Clawson at 168 lbs. (above) & 126 lbs. (right) has received medical weight loss treatments and lip injections from Karma Nguyen. (Photos provided by Kimberly Clawson)
“I was referred to Karma by a close friend,” says Kimberly. “My main (goals were) continuing my weight loss journey on Ozempic® and finding a more affordable option for some cosmetic issues that have been bothering me for a few years. I have been a cardiac nurse for almost 20 years in the Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, so the first thing I did was my research. I found that Karma has the same amount of medical experience under her belt; and her reputation in the community is that she is trustworthy, dependable, and competent.”
“I was a regular at a med spa in south Tampa, but after my first visit with Karma I made the switch. Karma works with my schedule — including appointments on the weekends — and her pricing is about half the cost of what I was paying [before], and the location is very convenient.”
Kimberly adds, “To date, I have lost 42 pounds under her careful guidance on Ozempic. She leans on the side of caution by requiring lab work, ensuring my dosing is safe, providing dietary counseling and checking in with me regularly. Now that I have reached my goal weight (over about 5 months), I am on a maintenance dose of Ozempic, which she monitors closely.”
And finally, she says, “I can also testify that Karma will not perform any services that could cause unintentional harm to her patients. I begged her to restore my Juvederm® lip injections. However, she noted my history of angioedema (severe allergy) while taking a (blood pressure) medication called Lisinopril® at the same time as Juvederm®, and advised me that she would not do that. Even though I no longer take that medication, she refused to take any chances with Juvederm®. Instead, she performed a “Lip Flip” using Botox®, which evened out the embarrassing damage caused by my previous experience. Finally, after 3 years of fearing my lips would remain grossly uneven, I smile with confidence!”
If you want to continue your beauty maintenance process at home after your spa visit, Defining Beauty offers a large selection of ZO® and Obagi Medical® skin care products. From quality cleansers and toners to specialized acne, anti-aging, redness and cellulite control products, Karma will let you know which product or combination of products will offer the best results.
Monthly memberships also are available for clients who want regular treatments at Defining Beauty. Gold ($160), Platinum ($200) and Diamond ($240 per month) members will receive a free HydraFacial® each month plus 50% off any additional facials as well as discounts on products, injectables and packages. Monthly treatments can be gifted to another person once every 4 months for a $20 transfer fee and there is a free add-on given during the member’s birthday month.
Karma has plans to expand Defining Beauty in the near future. She has brought on a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) named Michael to offer massage services at the spa. She also is adding a new treatment option for rejuvenation to improve wrinkles and skin laxity near the eye.
Contact Karma at Defining Beauty Wellness & Med Spa today to see how she can help your with your cosmetic and wellness needs.
Mention Neighborhood News to receive 30% off of your first service. Defining Beauty Wellness & Med Spa is located at 8911 Regents Park Dr., Suite 510, #9. The spa is open by appointment only. Call (813) 955-0408, visit definingbeautymedspa.com. You also may follow “Defining Beauty Wellness and Med Spa” on Facebook or “@definingbeautymedspa” on Instagram for pictures, tips and special offers.
