Remington’s Steak & Seafood ‘Returns’ To The Palms Connection On Bearss 

I have known Mark Birkin, the owner of Birkin’s Steak & Sushi restaurant on N. Florida Ave. in Lutz, for about 14 years — since he first opened PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave. back in 2011. 

Since then, Mark has changed the PJ Dolan’s name to The Wexford, but retained the Irish pub menu and feel. Before Mark bought it, PJ Dolan’s previously also was Remington’s Steakhouse, Cody’s Roadhouse and the Bullseye Saloon. 

And, although Mark had some success with both PJ Dolan’s and The Wexford, neither matched the drawing power of the original Remington’s or even Cody’s. 

But, Mark has had great success with Birkin’s, his upscale steak & sushi concept, and felt he could bring a more casual, popularly priced new steakhouse to just outside of New Tampa. 

He did his research and found that the only active use of the Remington name — in honor of the renowned “Old West” artist Frederic Remington — were two Remington’s Grills in North Carolina, so he got permission from the owner of those “fast casual BBQ & burgers” concept locations to use the original name that so many New Tampa residents loved and renamed it “Remington’s Steak & Seafood.” The unveiling of the new name and menu could happen by the time this issue reaches your mailbox but will more likely take until at least the Mother’s Day weekend — May 10-11 — before the sign goes up and the new eatery becomes a reality. 

At our press time, some of the renovations were still being finalized, as Mark decided he was going to keep The Wexford open until the official switchover takes place. 

“I’m excited about Remington’s Steak & Seafood,” Mark says. “This will be a locally owned, reasonably priced steakhouse that definitely should be able to compete with the popularly priced chain steak places in our area.” 

Mark also says that, in addition to its renovated main dining areas (both inside and on the spacious patio) the new Remington’s will have two private dining rooms suitable for parties and an all-new fun “feel,” but that still leaves the one burning question… 

What About The New Menu? 

Mark literally let me know that he had received approval to go with the Remington’s name two days before Our Apr. 29 New Tampa issue went to press. It had been several months since Jannah and I had eaten at The Wexford and our photographer Charmaine George had never eaten there with us, so we had to move quickly. 

I first asked Mark if any of The Wexford’s menu items were staying and, even though he said that all of the coming-forward items are going to be given upgrades, we sampled the potato skins, Shepherd’s pie quesadillas, fish & chips and the bacon cheeseburger & fries — and the latter two items appear above and below. 

Mark didn’t want us to use a Birkin’s steak picture for this story, so I found the generic top sirloin with baked potato picture shown on this page to give you a feel for the style of cuisine at Remington’s because, as Mark says, “The steaks will be the stars of this new show.” And, as you can see from the extensive sampling from the menu in the ad on the next page, there will be a wide variety of what he calls “Choice +” steaks, all at a few dollars less than the local chains. 

So, whether you’re craving a ribeye, NY strip, filet mignon, T-bone, top sirloin or even lollipop lamb chops, Remington’s will satisfy you. The only steaks I see missing are a bone-in ribeye/ tomahawk and prime rib, but those could be added down the road. In the meantime, the most expensive steak on the menu is the 23-oz. T-bone with two sides for $34.95. The 14-oz. NY strip is just $24.95 with two sides! 

As for the seafood side of the menu, there will be escargots and shrimp cocktail appetizers, grilled salmon, fried and grilled shrimp dinners and the aforementioned fish & chips. 

Remington’s other entrées will include country fried steak or chicken fried chicken, grilled chicken breast, a boneless BBQ pork chop, Shepherd’s pie, mac n’ cheese and a limited supply each night of a half or whole rotisserie chicken. There also will be a daily Happy Hour menu (served 3 p.m.-5 p.m.), with some of the items mentioned above, plus two sides, for just $14.95! 

Speaking of sides, Remington’s will offer everything from mixed veggies, green beans and kernel corn to sautéed mushrooms, baked or mashed potatoes, hand-cut fries and sautéed onions. And yes, the restaurant also will offer bone-in and boneless wings, clam chowder, French onion and a Soup of the Day, burgers, sandwiches, salads and an $8.95 kids menu (for ages 12 & under), plus decadent desserts. 

In other words, once it opens and people get to sample the new Remington’s, Mark believes it will be here to stay! 

Remington’s Steak & Seafood is located at 2836 E. Bearss Ave. The hours have not been officially set, nor does it have a phone number or online presence yet, but check our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page for updated info! 

Your CBD Store Of New Tampa Is Your Local Wellness Superstore 

Owners David Calcador and Deborah Curler invite you to try all of their newest products at Your CBD Store of New Tampa, located in the Pebble Creek Collection, just south of Wesley Chapel. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

David Calcador and Deborah Curler own Your CBD Store of New Tampa, a franchised location of the national chain, located less than a mile south of the Pasco County line in the Pebble Creek Collection on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. 

The first Your CBD Store was opened in Bradenton in 2018, and the husband-and-wife team of David and Deborah opened their store just a year later, in 2019. 

Now, Your CBD Store is the largest brick-and-mortar CBD chain in the U.S., with more than 600 stores, selling its proprietary Sunmed products, which is a premium, hemp-based line of wellness products tested locally for quality. 

Deborah and David are quick to emphasize that they’re not a smoke shop or a cannabis dispensary, but a wellness resource offering solutions to many health problems. 

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids that grow on cannabis, of which both hemp and marijuana are varieties. CBD originates from hemp, but contains less than 0.3% of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which is the ingredient that causes a “high,” while marijuana has much higher levels of THC. 

Most of the products at Your CBD Store of New Tampa are offered as “full spectrum,” which are generally stronger but still contain no more than the legal limit of 0.3% THC, and “broad spectrum,” which have no THC at all. 

“CBD can help you with what’s going on in your body,” explains Deborah. “From chronic pain to anxiety, there are so many things it can do for someone.” 

CBD comes in both flavored and flavorless tinctures, oils, pills, gummies, weight-loss products, as well as a skincare line, bath bombs, lotions, massage oils, pain creams and even products for dogs and cats. 

Deborah and David say that they love educating their customers and clearing up misinformation about CBD. Their CBD products won’t get you high, aren’t illegal, won’t make you impaired and you don’t need a medical cannabis card to purchase them. 

Deborah explains that all Sunmed products have a QR code on them that anyone can scan to see detailed information, from where the hemp was grown that was used to make the product (Deborah says the hemp used in her store’s products are all from Oregon and Colorado) to a lab report that explains exactly what’s in the product, as tested by a third party, to ensure quality and safety standards. 

New Products 

Deborah shares that the store is always offering new products, in addition to the staples they’ve had for years. 

For example, full-spectrum water soluble CBD has been available in 900 mg and 1,800 mg versions, but is now also available in 2,700 mg and 5,400 mg, too. Deborah says these products are great for stress, anxiety and panic attacks, as well as general health and wellness. 

“Neuro is a special blend for neurological issues and is CBG-enriched for fighting inflammation,” Deborah says. (Note-CBG is another non-psychoactive cannabinoid that also is known as “the mother of cannabinoids.”) 

For longer-lasting effects for pain relief, Deborah says tinctures provide up to 10 hours of pain relief and are available in 1,000 mg, 2,000 mg and 3,000 mg. 

Your CBD store also offers topical creams, sprays, gels and roll-ons for isolated pain. 

The store recently added Nowadays, which is an adult beverage that gives a buzz without a hangover, and Xite Delta 9 milk chocolate and dark chocolate candies and popcorn. 

Your CBD Store also carries a variety of edibles such as anytime gummies, all-in-one mushroom gummies, and super greens daily gummies, which help to support daily well-being. 

Products For Pets, Too 
If your pet suffers from separation anxiety or skin “hot spots,” Your CBD Store of New Tampa has an all-natural product that may help.

A variety of pet products to help dogs and cats also are available at Your CBD Store. 

For example, Chillen is a pet treat that can help with issues such as separation anxiety or to help pets relax during fireworks, travel, or any stressful situation. 

Other products include a probiotic blend that helps with potty issues, a treat that provides allergy relief, including skin support for pets that experience skin “hot spots,” and Movin’ Easy, which helps pets with joint pain. 

“All pet treats are formulated by veterinarians,” Deborah explains. 

Amazing Reviews 

Deborah and David are proud of their store’s Google reviews, which average 4.9 stars out of 5, based on nearly 200 reviews. 

“If you look at our reviews,” Deborah says, “you’ll see people love the products and that they’re changing lives.” 

Recently, Florencia Stewart visited the New Tampa store and shared her experience in a 5-star Google review. 

“I want to thank the owner! She is amazing,” Florencia writes. “I took my mom to get CBD and [Deborah] was extremely helpful, very patient, and explained everything to us. My mom is pain free!” 

She goes on to write, “We love this store! All I can say is thank you, thank you!!! My mom has been able to sleep!” 

Other recent reviews cite “exceptional customer service” and say that Deborah and David are both “extremely knowledgeable.” 

Whenever you make a purchase, you’ll receive a card you can bring back on the third Saturday of the month to receive a prize. Every card is a winner, whether it’s an additional discount, a free item, or up to a year’s worth of CBD! 

If you’re age 55 or older, Your CBD Store offers a 15% discount on all of your purchases, but on Mondays only. And, free local delivery or free shipping is always available for orders over $100. 

Your CBD Store of New Tampa is located at 19651 BBD Blvd., Suite B-1. It is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and 1 p.m.– 5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (813) 994-0599 or visit GetSunMed.com.

Chef Michael Touranjoe Is Redefining The Grill At Morris Bridge’s Menu! 

Photos by Charmaine George

When someone like Frank Gouveia — the owner of The Grill at Morris Bridge, one of the most popular independent restaurants in New Tampa — tells you that he found a new chef he thinks is the “best I’ve had yet. Please come by and check him out!,” it’s almost impossible for someone like me to resist. 

But, Frank is right. New Chef Michael Touranjoe (left) is bringing a unique creativity and panache to The Grill’s already impressive menu and he doesn’t plan to stop revamping and adding new menu items… basically ever! 

“Once I create something new, I have a tendency to get bored repeating the same dishes all the time,” Chef Mike says. “I’m like, ‘I’ve done that. What’s next?’” 

Still only in his 30s, Chef Mike still somehow has nearly 20 years of experience in the restaurant business. He has “worked everything from short-order to 3 Michelin star restaurants, Asian to Italian, and pizza to sushi to make myself well-rounded.” 

He has been a sous chef under Chef/owner Jeannie Pierola at her Counter Culture and Edison: Food + Drank Lab restaurants in South Tampa, and an Executive Chef/trainer for American Cruise Lines. 

“He walked in here to try the place,” Frank says, “and walked out as my new Head Chef!” 

Among the new menu items he’s added to the regular and Bar Bites menus at The Grill include mushroom arancini (balls of crispy fried risotto topped with tomato mayo and sherry aioli); crispy grouper bites with a zesty Old Bay remoulade; pork Milanese (breaded and fried pork cutlet, topped with arugula, pickled red onions, tomatoes, shaved parmesan and grilled lemon); seared Florida grouper atop goat cheese and pea risotto and a confit of baby vegetables; plus homestyle meatloaf on a bed of cheddar whipped potatoes, haricot verts and topped with caramelized onion jus; and my current favorite — the baked rigatoni with spicy Italian sausage, sweet peas, creamy marinara, fresh mozzarella and herbs. All of these new menu items are shown on this page and were absolutely delicious. 

The right photo is the new (and yummy) chicken Marsala (sautéed chicken breast, haricot verts, button mushrooms, Marsala wine and thyme butter sauce atop mashed potatoes). 

Chef Mike also is bringing a new energy to The Grill’s already-popular wine dinners. The event on Apr. 2 featured the pork loin roulade with sweet cornbread & spinach stuffing, corn basil cream and candied pecans as well as the mole marinated hangar steak with gorgonzola whipped potatoes, grilled asparagus, lemon zest and herb beurre blanc shown on the next page. The hangar steak had a nice exterior crusting and was super-tender and absolutely delectable. We rarely save room for dessert, but I loved the salted caramel cheesecake shown below, too! 

We didn’t attend that Stags’ Leap wine dinner on Apr. 2 but Chef Mike included all of the dishes served that night, including his rigatoni Bolognese — which our friend and long-time Tampa Palms resident and The Grill regular Mike Wallace said was “Awesome”— among his new weekly Chef’s Specials. 

The Wine Dinner We Did Attend! 

Jannah and I (and Jannah’s mom Carolyn) attended The Grill’s most recent wine dinner, which was held on Apr. 30 and featured a “reception” sparkling wine, plus three Wilson Daniels Italian wines and a Hungarian dessert wine, each paired with a delicious dish (see below). 

The event was hosted by Frank, Chef Mike and Craig Leslie, the North Florida area manager for Wilson Daniels, who described each of the wines as attendees sampled each course of the outstanding meal, first starting with a Bisol Jeio brut Prosecco “reception” wine, followed by a local Solena burrata with strawberries, assorted roasted beets (which I don’t usually like, but were quite tasty), rhubarb jam, crispy shallots and arugula, paired with a crisp Elena Watch Pinot Grigio that had just enough sweetness for Jannah and Carolyn to enjoy it, too. 

I couldn’t sample the actual second course — a grilled shrimp bucatini pasta puttanesca (right photo) paired with a Volpaia Chianti Classico — but Jannah said it was “amazing.” And, Chef Mike substituted the baked rigatoni at the top of the previous page for me and Carolyn, who called the dish “absolutely to die for.” I also loved the chianti so much, I ordered two bottles of it (and two bottles of the prosecco). 

The third course — a parmesan-dusted grilled petit filet mignon (topped with a Super- Tuscan demi-glace) was served with smashed fingerling potatoes and garlic broccoli rabe with semi-spicy Italian sausage — was paired with a Sette Cieli Yantra Super Tuscan red wine. The steak was “like butter” and the bitter broccoli rabe (one of my favorite veggies) was softened nicely by the sausage and garlic. 

And finally, the dessert was a mascarpone-filled tartlet with fresh raspberries, lemon, chocolate, basil and pistachio dust paired with a properly “syrupy” Royal Tokaji ice wine-like dessert wine from Hungary. So good! 

Frank hasn’t yet announced when the next wine dinner will be held, but once he does, you should definitely sign up for it! 

And, Frank says that all three pre-dessert courses will likely end up soon on Chef Mike’s weekly Chef’s Specials, which means that you will probably still have a chance to sample them if you didn’t attend the wine dinner. 

And, by the way, Chef Mike also was featured on a Season 4 episode of The Food Network’s “Chopped” (he’s 2nd from the left in the below photo) back in 2019, entitled “Beef Cake Mistakes.” But, he ended up getting “Chopped” (meaning he didn’t win the competition). In fact, he says, “I didn’t get “Chopped,” I got hammered,’ but it was still a great experience for me.” 

And yes, The Grill still has outstanding craft cocktails, the most extensive wine list in New Tampa, a great bar vibe, as well as its famous bar pizza and many of the other items that have been on the menu since before Chef Mike arrived. 

The Grill at Morris Bridge is located at 10920 Cross Creek Blvd. (next to Publix). It is open for dinner only on Mon. (5 p.m.-9 p.m.); lunch & dinner on Tues. & Wed. (11:30 a.m.-9 p.m.); 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. on Thur. & Fri. & 11 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sat. For more info visit TheGrillatMorrisBridge.com or call (813) 388-5353! 

‘Pieces Of Eight’ Chicago Tribute Band Rocks The Performing Arts Center! 

All photos on this page courtesy of Haley Paige Garcia • @haleypgarciaphotography on Instagram

When a New Tampa resident calls to ask you to check out his eight-piece tribute band for the rock/pop group Chicago at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC), it’s hard to turn him down — even when the group Pieces of Eight’s performance is the night before your New Tampa issue goes to press. 

But, having been a little disappointed when I saw the actual group Chicago in concert with the Beach Boys in either 1978 or ‘79, I wanted to see if long-time New Tampa resident Steve Hollingshead (drummer) and the Pieces of Eight band he helped organize could do as well or even better than the multi-Grammy Award-winning band itself could do. 

And oh boy, did Jannah and I — and the rest of the nearly-sold-out house at NTPAC — end up going home impressed. 

Lead singer and Wesley Chapel resident JC Grigg perfectly hit all of the high notes in Chicago hits like “Make Me Smile,” “Beginnings,” “Saturday in the Park,” “Feeling Stronger Every Day,” “Just You & Me” and my personal favorite Chicago song, “25 or 6 to 4.” 

The spot-on three-piece horn section was led by the super-talented Charlie Phillips on every size of saxophone (including the way cool baritone sax). He also gave everyone chills on the flute part of Chicago’s renowned ‘70s slow dance song “Color My World.” 

Pieces of Eight also has expanded beyond just Chicago, performing songs by Tower of Power, Huey Lewis & the News and Peter Gabriel — and it all combined for a great evening! 

For more info about Pieces of Eight, visit Po8Tampa.com. For upcoming NTPAC info visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org. — GN 

Law Offices Of Matthew Jowanna — Your Local Personal Injury & Estate Planning Firm 

Attorneys Farral A. Haber (left) & Matthew J. Jowanna of The Law Office of Matthew J. Jowanna, P.A., located off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, specialize in personal injury law & estate planning. (Photo by Charmaine George) 

The Law Offices of Matthew J. Jowanna, P.A., have been serving the legal needs of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa since 2005. The firm, located at the Windguard Professional Center off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel (near The Goddard School), specializes in personal injury, probate and estate planning and administration. 

Attorney Matthew J. Jowanna has been practicing law for more than 30 years and has specialized in personal injury cases since 1994. The firm’s founder, president and managing shareholder, Jowanna says his experience working in large law firms in downtown Tampa inspired him to do things differently. He says his goal since opening his firm has been to make that big downtown law firm experience accessible to people in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and the surrounding communities. Jowanna wants his clients to know that his is a quality local law firm focused on professional, caring service. 

“I wanted to open a small neighborhood law firm,” Jowanna explains, “where people in the local communities are able to get top-quality legal representation.” 

In order to expand the services Jowanna’s firm offers to clients, he recently added Farral A. Haber as managing attorney for estate planning and probate. Haber has been practicing law for thirteen years, with ten years specifically in trusts and estates. Together, Jowanna and Haber offer a wealth of experience to their clients. 

“We don’t do everything under the sun,” Jowanna says, “but our practice areas now include some of the most common needs in the neighborhood — we’re here as neighbors to help you with the typical legal problems that you and your neighbors may have.” 

When it comes to injury cases, whether someone gets hurt in a car accident, while on vacation or in the workplace, The Law Offices of Matthew J. Jowanna can assist you. Jowanna also helps clients who are having problems receiving their deserved injury benefits from insurance companies. 

Meanwhile, Haber’s estate planning and probate specialization helps clients with creating wills, living trusts, making plans for their estates and probate cases. Regardless of which services you require, Jowanna and Haber make every effort to meet those needs, and also make accommodations for their clients’ financial needs. 

“People shouldn’t have to drive to downtown Tampa for quality legal representation,” Jowanna says. “Every client is important and every case is different.” 

Jowanna earned his Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Broadcasting and Mass Communications from the University of South Florida in Tampa. He worked for several Tampa Bay area radio and television stations for seven years before pursuing his law degree. He then obtained his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale and graduated Summa Cum Laude (with Highest Honors), in the top 2% of his law school class. He also completed a prestigious postdoctoral Legum Magister (LL.M., or “Master of Laws”) degree from the University of Notre Dame, in Notre Dame, IN, where he graduated Magna Cum Laude (with High Honors) and received a perfect score on his LL.M. thesis. 

Jowanna’s first job out of law school was for an insurance defense firm, which helped him realize that insurance defense wasn’t where he wanted to spend his career. 

“It’s the opposite of what I do now,” he explains. “Doing that made me realize that I was on the wrong side of the fence, and I would prefer to be on the plaintiff side to help someone in their claim against a big insurance company.” He says he is appreciative of the knowledge he gained from seeing the other side, and that it has given him added insight when working with clients who are going up against insurance companies. 

Jowanna and his firm have been included in U.S. News & World Report’s rankings of the Best Lawyers and Best Law Firms in the U.S. He also is included in the Bar Register of Preeminent Lawyers, a unique guide to the legal community’s preeminent professionals who have received the highest ratings, according to the prestigious Martindale-Hubbell Law Directory. 

Tampa is ranked in the top-10 worst cities for drivers. Therefore, if you drive regularly in the Tampa Bay area, you have most likely witnessed an accident, its aftermath, or have possibly been involved in a collision yourself. Jowanna shares the following advice as to what to do if you find yourself in that situation. 

“I tell every client to take care of yourself first,” says Jowanna. “Your injuries obviously come first; the legal claim will be there afterwards. If you get into your typical fender bender and still have your wits about you, you should take photographs. A picture is worth a thousand words. Document, document, document!” 

Clients truly appreciate the way the firm advises them and goes above and beyond, even in the most challenging scenarios — as evidenced by its 4.9-star (out of 5) overall rating on Google on more than 50 reviews. And, while it is a neighborhood practice, the attorneys and legal staff can assist you even when you are far from home. 

In a five-star review on Google, Alexander Hunter says, “They handled my accident claim with incredible patience, even though I had to process everything from overseas. The team took the time to explain every step in detail and negotiated on my behalf when issues arose with different medical providers. Their professionalism and commitment to my case made a stressful situation so much easier.” 

The Estate Planning Side 

Helping folks during difficult and emotional times is an aspect of the work that Haber says she finds most rewarding. Working in probate and estate law, Haber helps clients both prepare for their own futures, as well as wrap up the affairs of someone who has passed. She helps clients with the process of figuring out exactly how an estate is to be administered, locating assets, discerning whether a court needs to be involved, as well as explaining what paperwork needs to be filed. 

Haber earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Psychology from the University of Florida in Gainesville, Cum Laude (with distinction). She was the Valedictorian of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. She then earned her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, Cum Laude, from the University of Florida, Levin College of Law. 

While in law school, Haber received the Book Award for the highest grade in Trial Practice; she also was the Executive Articles Editor for the UF Journal of Law & Public Policy and was a Certified Legal Intern with the State Attorney’s office. She is licensed to practice law in Florida, Virginia and the District of Columbia. 

While Haber initially started out as a litigator, after a few years, she chose to focus on estate planning and probate. “What I love about estate planning,” she says, “ is that it is something that everybody needs, and yet it is so easy to put off. I enjoy demystifying the process for folks and explaining things, making it approachable and customizing it to what a client actually wants, then seeing those goals put into practice.” 

Haber adds that she encourages people to plan ahead of time, and to not be afraid of the process. “People avoid it or dig their head in the sand because they don’t understand what it entails,” she says. Her goal is to make estate planning more approachable for clients and to help them get something in place, even if it is a step-by-step process that takes a few years. 

Jowanna says Haber’s talents are a great addition to the practice. “We are simply thrilled to have Farral joining us,” Jowanna says. “I hope the clients are as thrilled with her as we are.” 

While both Jowanna and Haber say they see growth of the firm as a goal, they are clear about what they want that growth to look like. “I never want to get so big that I don’t remember a client’s name and I don’t remember their file,” explains Jowanna, to which Haber adds, “I certainly want to assist as many folks as I can, but I never want to sacrifice quality.” 

The Law Offices of Matthew J. Jowanna, P.A., are located at 2521 Windguard Cir. For more information, call (813) 929-7300 or visit LetMattDoThat.com.