Recapping Thanksgiving & Previewing NYE At The Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel 

Do you already have plans for New Year’s Eve? If not, may I suggest visiting spending the turn of the year at the Hyatt Place Tampa-Wesley Chapel? 

Hear me out on this one: The Hyatt Place hosted three sittings for Thanksgiving Day and Jannah and I were among those who helped sell out the place, each of which offered a beautiful, sumptuous buffet dinner, including a fried turkey and slow-roasted prime rib carving station (photo), plus ham and citrus-glazed salmon, side dishes like sautĂ©ed green beans, garlic mashed potatoes and sweet & savory glazed carrots, plus desserts like traditional apple pie and sweet potato pie. There also was live music, unlimited mimosas and a full premium liquor bar. 

Jannah and I so thoroughly enjoyed (and, OK, overstuffed) ourselves, we decided to sign up for the Hyatt Place’s New Year’s Eve celebration — on Tuesday, December 31 (obviously), 8 p.m.-1 a.m. 

Here’s what we (and possibly, you) have to look forward to: More chef-prepared food stations, a live DJ, dancing, 4-hour open bar, a champagne toast at midnight and more. We signed up for the “premium” experience and at our press time, there were still both reservations for the New Year’s Eve event and room reservations available for that night. 

Please call (813) 803-5600 to book your reservation. We’ll see you there! — GN 

Box Of Cubans Now Open In Former New Tampa Mochinut Location! 

In our Oct. 29 issue, we told you that Box of Cubans restaurant was getting ready to open in the space previously occupied by Mochinut’s New Tampa location at 17512 Doña Michelle Dr., off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of the BBD exit off I-75 in the area known as Highwoods Preserve. 

(Photo by Katherine Baker)

Well, owners Marcos and Oni Silverio and their son, Marcos Jr. (MJ) have now opened their second Box of Cubans location (the other is in Riverview) and everything we’ve sampled so far has been pretty great. 

In addition to tasty pressed Cuban sandwiches (left photo), Box of Cubans also offers 14 different varieties of empanadas — from beef & cheese and chicken to banana nutella and guava & cream cheese. My current favorite sandwich is the “pan con bistec,” with mojo-marinated Palomillo steak, Swiss cheese, sautĂ©ed onions, crispy potato straws, mayo and a house cilantro sauce (top photo). There also are Cuban rice bowls with black or red beans and your choice of protein, garlic toast and sweet plantains that I haven’t sampled yet, although I did also enjoy Box of Cubans’ black beans and rice. 

Box of Cubans also serves a variety of breakfast items, even though it doesn’t open until 11 a.m. during the week and 10 a.m. on Saturday & Sunday. “We sell our breakfast all day,” Marcos told me. “And we already have customers coming in at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday ordering our breakfast sandwiches.” 

The bacon, egg & cheese on pressed Cuban bread is delicious and I also enjoyed the ham, egg & cheese empanada. But, my surprise favorite breakfast item is the torrejas, or Cuban-style French toast (right photo), which is topped with powdered sugar and served with both breakfast syrup and a warm strawberry dipping sauce. IncrĂ©ible! The cafĂ© con lechĂ© is excellent, too, and other hot and cold coffee drinks are available. 

To place an order online, visit BoxofCubans.com, or call (813) 632-9021 and please tell them I sent you! — GN 

CAO Bakery Is Open! Paris Baguette Is Coming Soon!

Even though it’s located inside the Kangaroo Express gas station at 17519 BBD Blvd. (in New Tampa’s North Palms Village), don’t be afraid to try the new CAO (which stands for “Cuban American Original”) Bakery & CafĂ© — it’s muy bueno! 

The Cuban-style bakery, with 16 Miami-area locations and one in West Tampa, features freshly made breakfast and lunch sandwiches (like the bacon, fresh scrambled egg & cheese on roll above), plus empanadas, Latin pastries and Cuban coffee drinks. It’s open Mon.-Sat., 6 a.m.-8 p.m., and 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday, and does have inside seating. To order online, visit CAOBakeryCafe.com. 

Speaking of bakeries, although we don’t know when, the 20th location of Paris Baguette Bakery (photo below) will open in the former Orangetheory Fitness spot in Highwoods Preserve (at 17515 Preserve Walk Ln.), next to Cold Stone Creamery. 

Like Tous Les Jours in the Lotte Plaza Market, Paris Baguette is Korean-owned (with 4,000 locations worldwide, including 200 in the U.S. & Canada) and features a variety of French-style pastries, plus cakes, quiches, salads and breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and a variety of hot & cold beverages. For more information, visit ParisBaguette.com.-GN 

Check out “Avalon Aglow” at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel!

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel (4424 Friendly Way) is hosting its annual “Avalon Aglow” celebration, with FREE, fun family-friendly activities all afternoon & evening, including a “Bounce Park,” food trucks, vendors, a “real” snow slide, community performances, pictures with Santa and fireworks beginning at 9 p.m. Note – You do NOT have to be an Avalon Park resident to attend this FREE event! 

For more information, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com or call (813) 783-1515. 

Tampa City Ballet Presents: “The Nutcracker.” 

Friday, December 13, 7 p.m.-9 p.m.; & Sunday, December 15, 4 p.m.-6 p.m

At the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Each year, performances of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” ring in the holiday season as a long-held tradition celebrated around the world. In the Tampa Bay area, the Tampa City Ballet (TCB) brings together audiences of all ages and backgrounds to participate in this classic family event. For tickets (reserved seating costs $30-$50) & more info visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events.Â