Nibbles & Bites: Bang-Bang! Bowls Is Open In Pebble Creek! 

Even though I grew up in New York, I had no idea what to expect from the new Bang-Bang! Bowls (located in the space previously occupied by Coffee Speaks & Tea Talks in the Pebble Creek Collection), which bills itself as “NY-style Indian rice bowls.” 

Well, following our first visit, Jannah and I really like Bang-Bang! Bowls, which has only one other location — in Nebraska. I ordered the “make-it-yourself” bowl (above photo), which I got with long-grain yellow rice, jerk chicken (with a semi-spicy jerk sauce) and fresh veggies. Jannah loved the spicy chicken taco (left photo), especially the mild white sauce and the clearly house-baked soft taco shells. 

Bang-Bang! Bowls (19651 BBD Blvd.) is open every day, 4 p.m.-midnight, except Monday (when it is closed). For more information, visit Bang-Bang-Bowls.com or call (813) 406-4366. — GN 

Check Out The Completely Redesigned Las Palmas Latin Grill! 

Ramses & Ana Garcia invite you to sample their authentic Cuban and Latin specialties, including the flaky guava-filled pastry shown below. 

Although we told you last issue that Las Palmas Latin Grill had reopened in the same brick-&-mortar space as it was previously, at 6431 County Line Rd. (south of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the same plaza as LA Fitness and Five Guys), the new Las Palmas hadn’t actually reopened when we went to press with that issue, so we couldn’t show you any pictures of the place or the food. 

Well, the beautiful, new Las Palmas did open as planned on Oct. 24 (a little more than two years after a kitchen fire shuttered the place) with a small ribbon-cutting ceremony and a few close friends and family getting to enjoy the full menu that had to be greatly reduced when owners Ramses and Ana Garcia had their food truck in the same parking lot following the fire. 

If you’ve never had Ana’s picadillo (minced beef with olives, potatoes and tomato sauce), Ramses’

The full menu is back and available at the newly reopened Las Palmas Latin Grill, including (above) merluza a la Rusa and(below left) the pressed Tampa Cuban sandwich. 

merluza a la Rusa (fried flaky white fish filet topped with egg, tomatoes and spices), vaca frita (crispy shredded beef with garlic-lemon mojo sauce), the award-winning pressed Tampa Cuban (with ham, roasted pork, salami and Swiss Cheese, mustard, mayo & pickles) or the big variety of empanadas, croquettes and Latin pastries, you need to visit Las Palmas — which will hopefully soon have its beer and wine license, too. 

And, with the holidays coming up fast, don’t forget to check out Las Palmas and its outstanding catering menu for a holiday party you and your guests won’t soon forget! 

Las Palmas Latin Grill is open Monday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and 11 a.m.-9 p.m. on Friday & Saturday (it’s closed on Sunday). For more information, call (813) 991-5500 or visit LasPalmasLatinGrill.com — and don’t forget to tell Ramses & Ana we sent you! — GN 

‘Shrek’ Was A Monster Hit; ‘Winter Wonder’ & ‘Dreamgirls’ Are Next!

Sadly, because of the timing of our print issues, we didn’t get to put a full review of the New Tampa Players’ production of ‘Shrek The Musical’ (at the end of last month) in print, but what a fun, touching, magical show it was!

Chris Cordero as the titular ogre & Brianna Fillippelli as his love interest Fiona were the outstanding stars, but the performances by Evan Lomba as Donkey, 6’-4” Kyle Fisher as the diminutive Lord Farquaad (which he impressively played on his knees) and 7-year-old Jordan Boyer as both Young Fiona & Baby Bear, plus a terrific supporting cast & great costumes & sets, really made the show something special.

Tickets are on sale now for NTP and Atlas Ballet Theatre’s one night only ‘Winter Wonder’ on Dec. 8, and for NTP’s ‘Dreamgirls’ in Feb.

Visit NewTampaPlayers.org for tickets & more information.

Nibbles & Bites: Mochinut Is Now Open On S.R. 56 & On BBD Blvd. In New Tampa! 

Last issue, I told you that Mochinut — which says on its website that its unique donuts are Hawaiian-inspired combinations of American donuts and Japanese mochi — was getting ready to open two locations in our area. The Lutz/Wesley Chapel Mochinut is located on the north side of S.R. 56 (in the former location of Pho 54, next to Astro Craft Ice Cream and Mellow Mushroom; right photo), while the New Tampa location is in the space previously occupied by Mahana Fresh on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of I-75. 

Well, both Mochinut locations are now open and yes, the donuts — which are now served at more than 130 locations around the country, and are available in a rotating variety of flavors (see left photo for just a few of them), from biscoff creme to ube (purple sweet potato) frosted — are light, airy and definitely taste nothing like Krispy Kreme or Dunkin’ Donuts. 

I still haven’t sampled Mochinut’s rice flour hot dogs, but definitely plan to soon. All Mochinut locations also serve a variety of boba teas. 

The two locations are different from each other inside, to suit their individual spaces. 

For more information, visit or call the Lutz/Wesley Chapel location (25704 Sierra Center Blvd.), call (813) 949-5877. We could not find a phone number for the New Tampa location (17512 Doña Michelle Dr.), but you can visit Mochinut.com for more info about all of the Mochinut locations. — GN 

Playa Bowls Is Open On BBD

We first told you about it months ago when it was “Opening Soon.” And we updated the story when that original opening date didn’t happen (as happens so often here in Pasco County. 

Well, Wesley Chapel’s Playa Bowls has finally opened, at 2653 BBD Blvd. (in the same plaza as The Hungry Greek). It offers a large variety of healthy bowls. The concept was born at the Jersey Shore but is called “Pineappleland” because of its founders Robert Giuliani and Abby Taylor’s love of the acai and pitaya bowls they encountered during their surfing trips to Hawaii and California. 

Today, the founders’ shared vision has grown to more than 200 locations nationwide, including 15 here in the Sunshine State. 

In addition to healthy plant-based bowls (including oatmeal and chia pudding bowls), Playa Bowls features fresh juices, smoothies and cold brews. For more information, visit PlayaBowls.com. — GNÂ