As only the third location in Florida, the new location of Crumbl Cookies, next to Zukku-San Sushi, brings unique, delicious and yes, somewhat crumbly, cookies and more to the Wesley Chapel area.
This growing franchise, with 128 locations in 27 states, offers a new variety of flavors every week and so far, we’re trying hard not to become addicted to them. But, with amazing new cookie and “Crumbl Cream” ice cream flavors rotating in and out every week, I can’t be held responsible for what happens when you try them.
The first day the store opened earlier this month, we not only tried giant versions of each of the four opening-week flavors — peanut butter, churro, chocolate chip and double chocolate — we found them to be so delicious and different that we decided to also bring a variety of the store’s “Crumbl Minis” to our granddaughter Rosie’s first birthday party — and yes, they were a big hit.Â
The peanut butter cookies are loaded with warm, gooey peanut butter, and the original chocolate chip cookies are packed with tons of equally melty chips. Our favorites, though, were the awesome frosted options — the double chocolate and the churro cookies (truly one of the best cookies I’ve ever tasted), and all of the Crumbls are slightly crisp outside but super-soft inside.
In other words, I’m not sure I agree with the name of the place, but these cookies are truly decadent, no matter whether they really “crumbl’ or not.Â
The day we went to press, I also got to sample our Crumbl Cookies store’s salted caramel ice cream, which also comes in a variety of delicious-sounding flavors like Buckeye brownie, muddy buddy, raspberry cheesecake and many more.
Crumbl Cookies (25922 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz) is open every day except Sunday. For more info, call (813) 445-6552 or visit CrumblCookies.com and please tell them I sent you! — GN
I’m not bragging, but I have spent time in every bar that has opened in the Pinebrook at The Grove plaza on C.R. (aka S.R.) 54. I remember the original Fatheads Pub, Skinny’s Sports Bar and of course, our long-time advertiser, Joe Whiskey’s Sports Bar.
The only reason Jannah and I, until now, haven’t spent more time at Joe Whiskey’s is because it has always been a smoker-friendly bar inside. Well, when bars were allowed to reopen during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic a couple of months ago (under Gov. Ron DeSantis’ executive order), Joe Whiskey’s reopened as a smoke-free bar with a covered outdoor patio for those who still want to smoke.Â
Inside, Joe Whiskey’s is now smoke-free, for those of us who want to shoot pool, sing karaoke (with karaoke jock Allan Hudson Brady), play darts or video arcade games and/or watch football (or hockey) games while enjoying a drink at the premium, full-liquor bar with great prices (and with Jessica, one of our favorite bartenders, top left photo above) — without the thrill of having to breathe in second-hand smoke. Allan has a great karaoke list and he’s currently there every Thur.-Sat. evening. Â
Joe Whiskey’s (27429 C.R. 54) is open noon-2 a.m. every day. For more information, call (813) 973-8336 .— GN
Another small (20-store), but growing chain is the Brooklyn Water Bagel Co., which opened a couple of weeks ago in the plaza just west of the intersection of S.R. 54 (aka Wesley Chapel Blvd.) & I-75 — and, for me, it is the New York-style breakfast (and lunch) place people in our area have been hoping would open here for a long time.
Local franchise owner Daniel Kurland says the key to everything made fresh at the Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. is the “Brooklynized in Wesley Chapel” water, which is a filtration and mineral-adding system that makes our local water taste much better.
“We even use this great-tasting Brooklynized water in our soda machine and coffee,” Kurland says. “Come on in and taste it for yourself!”
All I can say, after two weeks in business, is that the bagels are “legit” and kettle-boiled before they area baked, and the bacon, egg & cheese (top right, with a seeded “Black Russian” bagel) and Nova Scotia salmon (top left) bagel sandwiches definitely taste authentic.
The omelets are huge and fluffy (and served with crisp hash brown “cakes”) and the selection of hot and cold coffee (served at a coffee station, top center) is amazing!
Try the “Brooklyn Infusion,” which combines vanilla, caramel and Kahlua flavors. There’s even a coffee-flavored ice cube dispenser for you iced coffee fans!
The Brooklyn Water Bagel Co. (27835 WC Blvd., # 101) is open every day, 6 a.m.-3 p.m. For more info, visit BrooklynWaterBagel.com or call (813) 775-2275 — GN
The third-ever Chuck Lager America’s Tavern to open in the U.S. is now open and serving up deliciousness in the former Primebar location in the Shops at Wiregrass.
Although there has definitely been a lot of remodeling done inside, the more important thing is that the food at Chuck Lager’s (2001 Piazza Ave.), which features a menu created by celebrity TV chef Fabio Viviani, is significantly better than anything we ever had at Primebar, no matter how many times that menu was changed.
Avery Walker began last school year as the head coach for the Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) boys soccer junior varsity team, and finished it as the coach of two teams when he stepped in and took over the girls varsity soccer team midway through the season.
But, when it came to choosing which squad to coach this season, it was an easy call for Walker.
“The girls won me over,” he says.
Walker split the girls duties last year with boys varsity coach Dave Smith after Edwin Acosta resigned for personal reasons following a 6-1-1 start. Walker remembers his first game against River Ridge, when he had former player Ysa Novak make out the lineup. Walker jokes that he just kind of watched as he became familiar with his new players.
The Bulls won that game 4-3, and then won the next 13, including the Class 6A, District 5 championship and a first-round Regional playoff game before falling to St. Petersburg on penalty kicks.
Overall, not a bad debut. And the girls, who finished with a school-record 19-2-1 record last season, were happy to welcome him back.
“It was definitely a shock in the beginning (when Costa resigned),” says junior co-captain Kayla Ojeda. “But, I felt like we adjusted really well. Coach Walker came in and did a great job coaching us and helping us make it to Regionals. I was hoping he would sign up for the job and was really excited when he got it.”
Ojeda, a defender, is one of the keys if the Bulls are going to repeat the success of last season. While the team loses its top two scorers in Avery Damjanovic (34 goals, 11 assists) and Kylee Ehmann (12 goals, 20 assists), Ojeda heads up a defense that is stout. Walker, who played defense in college at Division III Bridgewater College in Virginia, loves what he sees.
Freshman Lola Vargas, sophomore Ashtyn Warner and seniors Taylor Pryor and Savannah Yoder comprise a group that Walker says is “extremely” good. If you happen to sneak by the Wiregrass wall, then co-captain and starting keeper Ella McGahey will be waiting.
“I think our backline is going to be really solid this year and, as a goalkeeper, it’s something you always want to have confidence in,” McGahey says. “Our goal is to concede fewer than 10 goals this season.”
That would appear to be a reasonable goal, since the Bulls allowed only 12 last year, as McGahey set a school record by allowing just 0.372 goals per game. The Bulls are 3-0-1 so far this season and haven’t allowed a goal.
Offensively, Walker feels he can fill the holes with junior midfielders Ellie Klem, who missed last season with an injury, and Natalia Kaminski, a newcomer.
The Bulls also return junior forwards Rylee Humphries, the leading returning scorer with 11 goals and nine assists, and Aiya Harrell (eight goals last season). Junior McKayla Battle scored six goals last year and picked up four in an 8-0 win over Anclote, and sophomore Emily Erker scored the only goals in 1-0 wins this season over Mitchell (which is now coached by Costa) is the season opener and their last game against Berkeley Prep.
Newcomer Bella Maldonado, who scored twice in the win over Anclote, also is expected to make an impact at midfield this season as well.
After back-to-back 19-win seasons, the sky may be the limit for the Bulls in 2020-21. Always in the shadow of a boys soccer program that is regarded as a state title contender every year, the girls look ready to step out this season.
“I definitely think we’re making a name for ourselves,” Ojeda says. “I think we’re going to keep it going this year.”
Cypress Creek High girls soccer coach Jessica Herzek is high on her freshmen and sophomores this season, and why not? Allison Souers, one of those freshmen Herzek is happy about, scored five goals in her first-ever high school game, an 11-0 season-opening win over South Sumter.
The still-young Coyotes, coming off a 9-7-1 season, have only one senior on their roster.
Youngsters like junior Hailey Canady (two goals in the season-opening win), sophomore Hannah Fulpo (a goal and two assists) and sophomore keeper Alex Capocy (1.16 goals-against-average) will lead the way.
“I have numerous girls who, if they choose, could go on to play at the collegiate level,” Herzek says. “I feel this will be an amazing season, but the next few years will get better and better.”
The Coyotes are 1-0-1, with a 2-2 tie against rival Wesley Chapel.
Since taking over in 2017, Wesley Chapel High coach Mark Leonard has set a school record for wins every year, including last year’s 20-4 mark, and won three straight District 4A-6 titles.
Keeping that going will be the goal for this season, though the Wildcats were outscored 22-1 in their first three games before earning a draw with the Coyotes.
Leonard says returning seniors Sydney Bauer, Kaylei Koschman (11 goals last year) and keeper Madison Holcombe, as well as junior Maddy Golka (nine goals) comprise the team’s core, and he expects newcomer Tatum Moore and sophomores Kiera McFeron and Kacey Snead to have breakout seasons on offense.
