If you’re looking for a quick, casual Italian meal, whether for sit-down dining or quick drive-through to-go service, you should definitely give the new Fazoli’s, located at 24791 S.R. 54 in Lutz (less than a half-mile west of the Tampa Premium Outlets), a try.
Fazoli’s is sort of like an Olive Garden (but with no alcohol sales) in a family-friendly environment, and also serves its own unlimited garlic breadsticks when you dine inside.
Jannah, photographer Charmaine George and I attended Fazoli’s pre-opening ribbon-cutting event on May 20 with other North Tampa Bay Chamber members and had the opportunity to meet franchisee Carlos Saenz and his family. Saenz, who also has owned Dairy Queen franchises in the Tampa Bay area, welcomed everyone to what is now the only Fazoli’s in the Tampa Bay area (the location on Busch Blvd. in Tampa closed a few months ago; the next nearest location is in Plant City).
We serve Fast, Fresh Italian,” Saenz said. “We have people who live in this area who have been anxiously waiting for this location to open, as they have been driving to Plant City for our breadsticks and Italian specialties.”
Jannah, Charmaine and I sampled a few items from the Fazoli’s menu, including slices of cheese and pepperoni pizza, baked lasagna, a Classic Sampler (fettuccine Alfredo, lasagna with meat sauce and spaghetti marinara with meatballs) and my favorite so far, the meatball sub. Among the other items on the Fazoli’s menu include fried mozzarella bites, pepperoni pizza breadsticks, baked ziti or spaghetti, chicken fettuccine Alfredo and more — all fairly priced. Another plus is that Fazoli’s sells Cheesecake Factory cheesecake slices for dessert. As I said…it may not be fine Italian dining, but it is worth a visit.
For more info, visit Fazolis.com, call (813) 803-3231 or stop in and tell general manager Nicole Taylor, operations director (and Wesley Chapel resident) David Ginsberg and crew I sent you!
(Photos from the Scripps National Spelling Bee and Associated Press Websites)
We first told you about Bruhat Soma — the New Tampa resident who won this year’s Scripps National Spelling Bee on May 30 — two years ago, when he was a 10-year-old fifth grader who missed attending the finals that year because he came down with Covid-19.
Bruhat, who then finished 74th at the 2023 Scripps Bee, not only won the title this year, he did so with what has to be considered the most amazing performance in the 96-year history of the Bee — even more incredible than it was controversial.
For only the second time ever (the only other time was in 2022), the final two contestants had to compete in a lightning-round tiebreaker known as a “spell-off,” where each contestant is given 90 seconds to correctly spell as many words as they can. Bruhat’s final round opponent — Faizan Zaki, a 12-year-old 6th grader from Allen, Texas — successfully spelled an impressive 20 words in 90 seconds, but Bruhat set a new spell-off record by spelling an other-worldly 29 words correctly in the same amount of time.
Although Bruhat told the Associated Press (AP) he was nervous about the spell-off, he calmly zipped through every word, from “abseil” (actually his last word of the spell-off) to “wenzel” by miming himself typing each word as he spelled it. If you haven’t yet watched his spell-off performance, you really should. AP’s article said he sounded more like an auctioneer than a speller.
As the champion, Bruhat receives a trophy and more than $50,000 in cash and prizes.
According to the AP, Bruhat said he “rehearsed the spell-off every day for six months. I was pretty confident that I had a chance at winning because I’ve been working so hard…and I really wanted to win. That’s why I practiced the spell-off so much.”
The AP story also said although there was no doubt Bruhat was a worthy champion, “the conclusion left many observers disappointed and confused.
“The finals began with eight spellers, the fewest since 2010,” the AP report said, “and it was clear that Scripps was trying to fill the 2-hour broadcast window on Ion, a network owned by the Cincinnati-based media company. Frequent, lengthy commercial breaks allowed spellers to mill about at the side of the stage, chatting with their coaches, relatives and supporters.
“And then, Bee officials announced it was time for the tiebreaker before Bruhat and Faizan were even given a chance to compete in a conventional round. The competition rules state that a spell-off is used in the interest of time, but Scripps still squeezed in another commercial break between the tiebreaker and the announcement of Bruhat’s victory.
“In the tiebreaker — which was used once before, when Harini Logan of Texas correctly spelled 21 words in 90 seconds in 2022 — “the winning word is the one that gives a speller one more correct word than their competitor.” Although it was actually his 29th correct word, not his 21st, Scripps said, “Bruhat’s winning word was ‘abseil,’ defined as “descent in mountaineering by means of a rope looped over a projection above.”
After the competition ended, and a clearly sad Faizan graciously shook his hand, Bruhat told the AP, “I always want to win. And this was, like, my main goal. I’m just really happy that I won this.”
Bruhat is the second straight champion from the Tampa Bay area, and his victory means 29 of the last 35 spelling champs have been Indian American.
He also is the second New Tampa resident to claim the title — former Benito Middle School eighth grader Nupur Lala was the first, after winning in 1999. Nupur’s journey to the crown inspired a new generation of spellers, after her triumph was featured in the documentary “Spellbound.” Now a neuro-oncologist, Nupur returned to the Bee this year for the first time in a decade.
Turner Bartels principal LaMarr Buggs said that Bruhat’s performance was “Unbelievable. I honestly was nervous about the spell-off because the other kid (Faizan) seemed faster during the regular rounds, but wow. Just wow! Everyone at the school is so proud that he is one of ours.”
Buggs also said that after Bruhat, who lives “within walking distance of the school in Live Oak Preserve,” is finished with a whirlwind media tour, including an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmell Live!” and other national talk shows, a “welcoming committee” from Turner Bartels plans to greet Bruhat and his family at Tampa International Airport upon their return.
Although the graduation events for both Freedom and Wharton high schools will already have been held by the time this issue reaches your mailbox, we wish all of our graduating seniors success in their future endeavors at the Summer of 2024 officially begins. In the meantime, there are some fun and some informative events on the upcoming docket.
Thursday, May 30, 5:30 p.m. — New Tampa Community Meeting with Dist. 7 Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera. At the New Tampa Recreation Center (17302 Commerce Park Blvd., Tampa Palms). Join Councilman Viera and learn about the latest developments at City Hall, get some information about the city’s Parks & Recreation Dept. and ask the Councilman your questions.
Friday, May 31, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.. — The North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) presents “Final Friday.” This free networking event will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel (26640 Silver Maple Pkwy.). For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.
Friday, May 31, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. — R&B Night at The KRATE at The Grove Container Park. See story below.
Tuesday, June 4, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. — NTBC Business Breakfast with Florida Senator Danny Burgess. At the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch of Pasco Hernando State College (2727 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel). $25 for NTBC members, $30 for non-members. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com
Friday, June 7, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. — NTBC Leading Ladies Network with author & motivational speaker Kiera Yore. At Florida Avenue Brewing Co.’s Private Event Room (2029 Arrowgrass Dr., Wesley Chapel). $15 per person. For more information, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.
Friday, June 7, 5:30-9:30 p.m. — The Market Elaine. At the Village at The Grove, with 150+ vendors, free admission & free parking. For info, visit TheMarketElaine.com.
Monday, June 10, 6 p.m.- 8 p.m. — Town Hall Meeting with Dist. 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan. At the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunter’s Village Rd.). Join Commissioner Hagan for an informative evening of information and an opportunity to ask the Commissioner your questions.
Wednesday, June 19, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. — Coffee Social at the Sara Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis & Wellness Center (6585 Simons Rd., Zephyrhills), hosted by SVB’s Che Sara restaurant. Free coffee, networking & light bites.
Saturday, June 29, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. — Jazz Night at The KRATE at The Grove Container Park.
I’ve said it from Day One, but when you’re supposed to be a “fresh” seafood restaurant and the food item people say they love the most at your place are your cheesy fried biscuits, that’s kind of a problem.
Well, the bad news for you Cheddar Bay biscuit lovers is that dozens of Red Lobster restaurants across the U.S., including the location at 17021 Palm Pointe Dr. at The Pointe at Tampa Palms, closed abruptly on May 14, weeks after the announcement that the company was pursuing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy for the 700+-unit worldwide chain. The local Red Lobster was one of three Tampa Bay-area locations and 20 in Florida that all closed the same day. And, following the closures, published reports say that Red Lobster did formally announce that it had indeed declared bankruptcy on Monday of this week (after we went to press with the May 28 New Tampa issue) —” punctuating a five-year chapter marked by traffic declines, inconsistent sales and dwindling cash. The restructure will result in a leaner company, smaller menu and better capital structure, per a plan laid out in a court filing by CEO Jonathan Tibus.”
Although the restaurant’s popular “Endless Shrimp” promotion was reported as a major reason for the bankruptcy, it’s clear the company had a lot more problems than just too many customers consuming too many free crustaceans.
The good news is that you can still buy the mix to make your favorite biscuits from scratch. They’re also available frozen and ready to bake in most local grocery stores.
Meanwhile, TJF USA LLC, the parent company of Central Florida-based Tijuana Flats Tex-Mex restaurants, has been acquired by a new ownership group (Flatheads, LLC), but the company concurrently announced that it has filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy, which has resulted in the closing of 11 of its 26 franchise locations (there also are 65 company-owned Tijuana Flats), including the one in New Tampa at 17501 Preserve Walk Ln. in the Highwoods Preserve area, which is already closed (photo).
The Wesley Chapel Tijuana Flats, located at 27709 S.R. 56, is one of the locations that is remaining open. All of the Tijuana Flats restaurants are located in Florida, North Carolina, Texas and Alabama.
Also, although we told you way back in our Sept. 19, 2023, New Tampa issue that Potbelly Sandwich Works was taking over the former Oronzo Honest Italian space in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve plaza on BBD, we had no idea at that time how long it would take for Potbelly’s to open in the plaza.
Well, we now know that the answer is “No time soon.”
Yours truly was able to stop in at the under-construction location a couple of weeks ago and what I saw was a still-completely-gutted space with a dirt floor. In other words, no remnant of what once was Oronzo remains and even the construction workers at the site (who said they didn’t know and certainly couldn’t speak officially about any projected opening date) said that it would be “months” before Potbelly could possibly be ready to open. I didn’t take any pictures inside, but based on what I saw, it could be until the end of the year before we see the new Potbelly’s opening in that space.
In the meantime, feel free to visit the location at 4738 N. Dale Mabry Hwy. (near Raymond James Stadium) or the one at 2520 S. Falkenburg Rd. (near Brandon) for the Chicago-based chain’s “famous toasty sandwiches, soups, salads, fresh-baked cookies and hand-spun milkshakes.” — GN
The end of the 2023-24 school year brings not only separate graduation events for each of Wesley Chapel’s three local public high schools, but also the start of the Summer of 2024 for all local students.
You’d think that the calendar of events for our area would slow down as the summer kicks off, but there is still plenty to do in and around Wesley Chapel.
Saturday, May 25, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. — Jazz Night at The KRATE at The Grove Container Park.
Friday, May 31, 4 p.m.-6 p.m.. — The North Tampa Bay Chamber presents “Final Friday.” This free networking event will be held at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa- Wesley Chapel (26640 Silver Maple Pkwy.).
Friday, May 31, 4 p.m. — Cypress Creek High Graduation Ceremony. At the USF Yuengling Center.
Friday, May 31, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. — R&B Night at The KRATE at The Grove Container Park. See story on next page.
Saturday, June 1, 5 p.m. — Wesley Chapel High Graduation Ceremony. At the USF Yuengling Center.
Monday, June 3, 5 p.m. — Wiregrass Ranch High Graduation Ceremony. At the USF Yuengling Center.
Friday, June 7, 5:30-9:30 p.m. — The Market Elaine. At the Village at The Grove, with 150+ vendors, free admission & free parking. For info, visit TheMarketElaine.com.
