We also had to post a shot on our Facebook.com page last week announcing that a new location of Tampa Bay area mini-chain Cappy’s Pizza is opening in the original, smaller Ciccio’s location in City Plaza by the end of the summer.Continue reading
Nibbles & Bytes: Vallarta's & Casa Ramos Coming To Tampa Palms
By Gary Nager
Although we still couldn’t say for certain at our press time whether or not Ciccio’s Lodge was going to move into the former World of Beer location in the Shoppes at The Pointe in Tampa Palms (although both World of Beer and Coffee Beanery Café did close since we made those announcements last issue), we do know what restaurant will replace Ciccio’s in the Publix-anchored City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center.Continue reading
NY NY Pizza — A Famous Taste Of NY & Ybor City In Wesley Chapel!
By Gary Nager
Anyone who has been reading this publication for any length of time knows how much I love pizza, especially the true New York-style pizza which cooks in real pizza ovens on a true pizza “stone.” The good news, for those of us who live and/or work in Wesley Chapel, is that our area already has had some pretty good NY-style ‘za.Continue reading
Happy Cow — Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, Gelato & Fresh-Baked Treats!
By Gary Nager
If you’ve been reading this publication the last year or so, you know just how many frozen yogurt places have opened in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel — and that there are still more on the way.Continue reading
Taste of New Tampa rocks Tampa Palms, weather fails to dampen audience's spirit

By Gary Nager |
NEW TAMPA — Although the forecast for the 20th annual Taste of New Tampa on March 24 called for about a 70-percent chance of rain — and despite winds that gusted to 30 miles per hour — the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce that co-hosted the event with the Primrose School of Tampa Palms in the adjacent Primrose Park was happy with just the few sprinkles of rain that fell throughout the day.
An estimated crowd of about 3,000 people attended this year’s Taste and got to sample cuisines from nearly 20 restaurants, several of which were awarded prizes by a panel of judges that included two personal chefs.
This year’s Taste also featured an outstanding “Battle of the Bands,” which was won by a funk-rock band called Nervous Energy, which was rewarded with a $500 cash prize.

The event also was visited by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn, who sampled some of the food and also touted the city’s new New Tampa Blvd. Gateway Bridge, which literally let people cut their travel time to the Taste in half. The Primrose School also offered a great play area for the kids in attendance.
The park proved to be an outstanding location.
For more info about this year’s Taste, watch our YouTube Taste wrap-up video.
