Have you seen the moon this past week? I kept snapping pictures with my iPhone but it looks weak compared to the Jack-in-the-box signage that kept photo bombing me. Tonight is the full moon.
Spring Break is in full swing here:
a) the scent of coconut oil lingers in the air
b) Every venue or bar has booked performances M-S
c) traffic is congested
d) flip flops and pollen are everywhere
e) my blender is getting a workout
One of the top places I can be found during the apocalypse and I would leave a trail of shells in my path. If I were to eat like there is no tomorrow, I'd choose here and gaze out at the last sunset. The un-oaked Chardonnay is delightful with a steady line of various oysters from around around the map.
I'm winding the work week down with temperatures in the 80s and the skies blue. Lucky me, I get to enjoy the gorgeous scenery on the calm water even when I'm at work. This area is never more spectacular than in the middle of February or March. Isn't this a great view?
As one of the Foodbuzz: 24 X 24 Gulf Coast Ambassadors, last night it was my privilege to participate and showcase the cuisine of the Gulf Coast region. This event was held in St Pete, Florida at my friend Jennie's house with the proceeds going to the Greater New Orleans Foundation thanks to Foodbuzz with the focus on helping fishermen and their families in the area who have been subjected to the fallout from the BP oil disaster since April 20, 2010.
The stakes have been devastating to every single state along the Gulf Of Mexico and nobody knows if there will be much of a future for inhabitants or residents of the area. There is a darkness that looms in our offshore waters and the oil invasion is currently taking a heavy toll on all of us living in the coastal regions.
What the heck are we supposed to think of the fish now? NOAA closed 19% of the Gulf of Mexico to fishing. The gulf is the only known spawning ground for Atlantic bluefin tuna.
In Tampa, eating with views of the city along the many waterfront options is ideal. In fact, it is one of the reasons I live here. With fresh seafood abundant and boats bobbing in the channel, I'm reminded to enjoy the simple pleasures in life. The chefs at Cafe Dufrain have taken the local specialties and turned them into elegant dishes perfect for lingering over. Tuna TarTar is my favorite appetizer that tastes incredibly fresh and whets my appetite for a glass of wine.
The Tampa and Pinellas area have some of the best eating establishments to enjoy a casual seaside meal whether soaking up the rooftop in the afternoon or watching sunsets on the deck. Grouper sandwiches are one of the specialties of the area. Here is a list of some of the best places to find local grouper sandwiches.
A list of places to take advantage of free wi-fi around Tampa. While you're working, keep a purchase in front of you, and buy something every hour or so.
"Tampa Bay's estuary encompases 400 square miles and borders three counties. The watershed area covers nearly five times more the size at 2,200 miles. More than 100 tributaries flow into Tampa Bay, including meandering creeks and rivers. A single quart of bay water may contain as many as one million phytoplankton, essential to the food chain thread." Boat US Magazine
