‘Absolutely Avalon’ Brings A Crowd to Community’s Downtown!

Photos by Charmaine George

According to Avalon Park Group Senior VP of Marketing & Community Relations Stephanie Lerrett, about 1,000 people attended Avalon Park Wesley Chapel’s annual “Absolutely Avalon” celebration on Apr. 19 over the course of the evening. 

Sponsored by Curtain Callers, Avalon Park Group and The Flats (apartments) Wesley Chapel, the event featured a variety of kids’ activities, food trucks, cultural performances, artisan, craft and business vendors, pictures with the Easter bunny and a laser light show that Lerrett says was the hit of the evening. “We continue to provide important events that give the entire local area, not just Avalon Park residents, the opportunity to build community, with family-friendly activities,” Lerrett says.

Lerrett also provided us with updates about the businesses that are now open or coming soon to Avalon Park’s downtown. In addition to ISI Elite Training, Woof Gang Bakery, Prime Barber Shop and Rita’s Italian Ice — all of which we’ve written about before, Rudraksh Indian Restaurant just opened last week. Among the businesses that are coming soon, Lerrett says those include Avalon Nail Salon, Luxe Dental, Vet Check Avalon Park Animal Hospital and Tallo American/Caribbean Restaurant & Bar, which could open as soon as next week.

Provided by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel
Provided by Avalon Park Wesley Chapel

Einstein Bros. Bagels Coming Soon To BBD 

Wesley Chapel residents are apparently already excited about the sign that went up in the plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (just south of S.R. 56) that also is home to Nutrition Smart that Einstein Bros. Bagels is opening in the plaza. 

As soon as I was alerted to the sign by readers Marisa and Theo Panopoulos, I had a nice chat with Kurt, a Wesley Chapel resident who is the general manager of the closest currently open Einstein Bros. location (on E. Fowler Ave., near USF). 

Kurt told me that although the Einstein Bros. corporate entity (both of these locations are corporate-owned, not franchises) was hoping to have the Wesley Chapel location open by the end of May, “It looks like sometime in late July or early August is more likely.” Kurt also said he believes he will end up moving to become the GM at the new store. 

In the meantime, Wesley Chapel still has a Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. on S.R. 54 west of I-75, at the front of The Grove, as well as Zio’s NY Bagels & Deli Co. in the Pebble Creek Collection on BBD, about 2.5 miles south of the planned Einstein Bros. Also, check out the reopened Bagels Plus on E. Fletcher Ave. — GN 

Tampa City Ballet Brings Beautiful, New Life To ‘Don Quixote’ At NTPAC 

Jannah and I were sad that we weren’t able to attend either performance of the classical ballet “Don Quixote,” as performed by the Tampa City Ballet, at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC) the weekend of March 21-23. 

The good news is that our photographer Charmaine George was able to attend and take the beautiful photos on this page. Charmaine says that Tampa City Ballet artistic director and choreographer Paula Nuñez, Ballet Master Osmany Montano, who also portrayed Sancho Panza, the servant of protagonist Don Quixote de La Mancha (portrayed by Wilson de los Santos), Kali Bartasavich (who played Don Quixote’s “Beloved Fantasy” Dulcinea and the entire cast of “Don Quixote” all did an amazing job of bringing renowned Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th century novel to life. 

Charmaine also particularly raved about the costumes and sets (which also are hallmarks of all Tampa City Ballet performances) and was hopeful that her pictures could do justice to this amazing spectacle! 

For more info about the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Tampa City Ballet (TampaCityBallet.org) or the ballet company’s incredible school, the Tampa City Dance Center (15365 Amberly Dr.) — which trains dancers of all skill levels in many different dance genres — call (813) 558-0800, visit TCDanceCenter.com For more info about Tampa City Ballet’s upcoming fund-raising gala “La Septima Society,” see the ad above. — GN 

Grilltopia Brings South American Cuisine To The KRATEs! 

Photos by Charmaine George

Although the KRATE at The Grove container park already has a wide variety of Latin cuisines — including Peruvian, Puerto Rican, Mexican and Venezuelan, the new Grilltopia offers a unique mix of South American cuisines. 

Whether you like Brazilian, Colombian, Venezuelan, Argentinian or even Uruguayan food, Grilltopia — which has been open for less than two months in the space previously occupied by Yummy Tablas in the KRATEs — has something for you to try. Grilltopia’s exterior sign says that owners Patricia (whose parents are from Uruguay) and Miguel (who is from Venezuela) want to “Meat You Here.” 

Start with pinchos (top photo), which are kabobs that are popular all over the South American continent and are available in perfectly grilled beef or chicken (or a combo of each) with crisp, delicious fries. 

Speaking of grilled meats, the parrillas (left photo) are grilled meat combos that can include skirt steak, pork chops, sausages, chicken, picanha (a Brazilian sirloin or rump cap), tenderloin, short ribs, blood sausage or pork belly, in a variety of combinations. Parrillas are served with a variety of dipping sauces and two or three side dishes, from yuca bites, to rice & beans, potato salad and our new-found favorite, a thick slab of fried white cheese (bottom right photo). 

Also available is a variety of pepito sandwiches (right), a Venezuelan delight with beef, chicken, or “mixto” (mixed) and many of the same meats, as well as bacon, are available on these sandwiches, which also offer lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, string potatoes and different sauces. 

The different meats also are available on bowls with quinoa, fried or cauliflower rice, and there are fresh juice drinks, smoothies and South American beers and sodas, too. 

Grilltopia is not an inexpensive dining experience, but the portions are large and the flavors are unique, so give it a shot and please tell Patricia and Miguel that I sent you! 

Grilltopia is open every day at noon and closes at 9 p.m. on Mon.-Thur., at 10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. & at 7 p.m. on Sun. For more info, call (813) 909-6354 or visit “Grilltopia Krate” on Facebook. — GN

PeppaJak Is Already Open In Former Bacon Boss HQ Spot At The KRATEs 

We were saddened to see that The Bacon Boss HQ, one of the original — and most popular — restaurants to open in the KRATE at The Grove container park (at 5888 Grand Oro Ln., #112), had closed on March 30. 

In their Mar. 20 announcement on the Best of Wesley Chapel Facebook page, however, owners Christy and Joshua Norland did say that the Bacon Boss food truck will “continue to grow” and be available and that a new chicken concept food truck called Cluckology (photo left) also is in the planning stages, so at least the delicious burgers, hot dogs, fries, tots, chicken sandwiches and mac & cheese options so many of us have come to know and love will still be available now that the Bacon Boss HQ has closed. 

I did visit The Bacon Boss HQ one last time a few minutes before it opened on the day before it closed and there already was a family and two other people, all of whom said they were “fans” who were already waiting to order. 

At our press time, however, PeppaJak, a similar burger-&-chicken concept, was starting its soft opening in the former Bacon Boss space. 

Owned by my new friends Alex and Ashley, PeppaJak is the “Jak of All Kravz,” and based on my first visit, I think it’s an accurate description! 

Alex and Ashley also own an extremely popular PeppaJak location in Riverview, which also features “kravz” like Philly cheesesteaks, and steak Philly and Southwest chicken eggrolls. 

But, while not all of those menu items are available (at least, not yet) at the PeppaJak KRATE, the cheeseburger shown above was thick and juicy and the skin-on fries were crispy and not over-seasoned. Alex then gave me a small sample of two of the menu items that are available at the new location — crispy and delicious mac-&-cheese bites and some super-yummy boneless chicken tenders. I told Alex I don’t really do spicy (and they are available plain), but I really liked the sweet-&-spicy sauce he suggested! 

Alex says a new online ordering system should be available by the time this issue hits your mailbox, “and we’ll also have a new phone number for this location by then, too!” 

For more info about The Bacon Boss and Cluckology, visit “The Bacon Boss” on Facebook or call (813) 922-9290. For PeppaJak, visit PeppaJak.com or call (813) 374-5846. — GN