Throughout the nearly 18 years Iâhave been the owner, editor and primary food âcriticâ for this publication, Iâhave probably received as much praise and criticism for my dining reviews as Iâhave about controversial road projects. Maybe more.Continue reading
Happy 2012 & AâLittle Bit Of Info About My Dining Reviews
Throughout the nearly 18 years Iâhave been the owner, editor and primary food âcriticâ for this publication, Iâhave probably received as much praise and criticism for my dining reviews as Iâhave about controversial road projects. Maybe more.Continue reading
Wesley Chapel Man Arrested For Threatening Women With Chainsaw
By Sean Bowes
A Wesley Chapel landscaper is behind bars after using his tools for something other than trimming trees.Continue reading
Wesley Chapel Chamber Hosts AâSuccessful Wellness Festival
Itâs been three years since the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) has hosted a Health & Wellness Festival at The Grove shopping plaza off S.R. 54 at I-75, but WCCC marketing director Christine Hope says the event was much better-received this time around.Continue reading
Neighborhood Nibbles – Updates On Quail Hollow CC, CafĂ© OlĂ© &âMore
Quail Hollow CC To Host Big New Yearâs Eve Bash!
If you still have never visited the newly revamped Quail Hollow Golf &âCountry Club (QHGCC, located off Old Pasco Rd., less than a mile from S.R. 54) hereâs a great chance to check out the clubâs beautifully remodeled restaurant for one of the biggest events of this or any year.
Owner Andre Carrollo and Chef Demetrius invite you to ring in the New Year at QHGCC on Saturday, December 31, beginning at 7 p.m., for dancing (until 1 a.m.) and a spectacular fixed-price dinner, which includes your choice of fresh Florida stone crabs or Mediterranean beef carpaccio, a classic Caesar or field mixed green salad, as well as your choice of three outstanding entrĂ©es â a filet mignon and Maine lobster tail combo, a garlic and rosemary-crusted prime rib or grouper St. Jacques topped with shrimp, scallops, wild mushrooms and sundried tomatoes. For only $160 per couple, which includes a champagne toast at midnight, taxes and gratuity, youâll also get to enjoy a âdeath by chocolateââcake with fresh raspberry chocolate purĂ©e-dipped strawberries.
Weâre betting you wonât be able to beat the food, the venue, the live music or the price for this awesome evening.
QHGCCâis located at 6225 Old Pasco Rd. For New yearâs reservations and more info, call 333-0033 or visit QuailHollowNow.com.
Café Olé Back Under
Original Ownership
For those who still have never tried CafĂ© OlĂ© in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St., Iâencourage you to visit New Tampaâs only restaurant providing a âTrue Taste of Spain.â
CafĂ© OlĂ©, already one of my favorite restaurants in our area, is once again owned by Frank Aliaga, who is originally from Spain and still spends a lot of time in his native country. Aliaga, who also was one of the original owners/developers of the Cross Creek Center, has major plans under way to not only re-focus CafĂ© OlĂ©âs menu, but also to add a separate formal dining room for private parties (perfect for any holiday bash) and busy nights and bring in a unique beer, wine and liquor store that also will carry Spanish-style packaged foods and more. The new dining room and liquor store are expected to open by Friday, December 16.
In addition, CafĂ© OlĂ© is offering great new Happy Hour and Ladies Night (on Thursday evenings) specials, in addition to $5 Tapas Tuesdays and a new âKarate Wednesdayââspecial, and will feature music and dancing every Friday and Saturday night. Also, coming soon is an announcement of the restaurantâs next Flamenco show night. CafĂ© OlĂ© also is planning a great New Yearâs Eve celebration. Call or stop in for details.
Café Olé is located at 10020 Cross Creek Blvd. and is open every day at 11 a.m. For more information, call 907-5242.
County Line Rd. â AâBurger Battleground?
When Five Guys Burgers &âFries first opened a couple of years ago in the Sweetbay/L.A. Fitness-anchored plaza at the corner of County Line Rd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and was followed in 2010 by a Red Robin in front of the Shops at Wiregrass mall at the intersection of S.R. 56 and BBD, we had no idea that the pair would be part of a massing of burger-oriented chains north and south of the county line in that area.
In addition to Five Guys, Red Robin and Sonic, which already are located within New Tampa and Wesley Chapelâs burger borders, several new burger joints also are joining the fray.
Among the newcomers is a just-opened Burger King located between Five Guys and Wharton High on BBD. On the same side of BBD just a little further south, the third link in the Tampa-based Burger 21 chain is expected to open over the next month or two in a new retail plaza a little closer to Wharton than Burger King. And, around the same time frame, just the second location of Burger Monger â which, like Burger 21, also has a Carrollwood store â will open in the space previously occupied by Pancheroâs in the same section of the Shops of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel between the county line and 56 as Bonefish Grill.
Is all this burger mongering a function of the economy, a sign that people somehow couldnât get enough of just fast food burgers or both? We will keep you posted on each of the newcomers as they open.