The Tea Party was ever present, of course crying reverse racism because Hispanic Voters would like to prevent regression of their own political influence. Republican interests were also present, requesting gerrymandered districts that would ensure the future political domination of their party on the Commission.

Citizens of Brandon, West Chase, Seffner, East and West Tampa as well as many Central Tampa neighborhoods came out and voiced their support for fair and compact districts. There were many maps proposed by the county, yet the most significant maps that seemed to gain traction in recent days were Maps I and J. Map I, titled the “People’s Map”, was the sole map that put an end to gerrymandering and provided equitable representation for disenfranchised minorities.

Unfortunately, the people didn’t win tonight. Tonight the County Commission moved 6 to 1 to adopt Map G. Ironic that map G is the most Gerrymandered map out there. It encompasses Keystone all the way to Apollo Beach in District 1. It also regress the Hispanic representation in District 1 by over 3 percentage points. This is a bad map. It is more of the same self-centered incumbent politics.

I am personally disappointed in our Commission. Not just due to ignoring the people or being selfish, but for also shutting out the public in the re-districting process. Unfortunately, BOCC Policy requires that only Commissioners can submit maps and have access to county demographers. This merely shows that there is no Sunshine in Hillsborough County.
Yet, the people should not despair. The Voting Rights Act Protects from regression and dilution of minority representation in re-districting. This law has long protected African-American Districts in this nation, and fortunately enough our 14th amendment offers us equal protection under the law. Therefore, the Hispanic Community has every precedent to sue the BOCC and file complaints with the U.S. Department of Justice.

It is unfortunate that our Federal Government still has to provide oversight of our local county government, but as long as they continue to disregard the will of the people and disenfranchise them it is necessary. In addition, our Florida Constitution demands fair and compact districts. And, that is the exact opposite of what our BOCC has adopted.

I say to each and everyone one of you out there. Do not give up this fight. We will prevail. We will overcome. We will gain fair and equitable representation, by any means necessary.

Originally Posted in the Tampa Latin Chamber by  Christopher Cano

Harry’s has a lot of things going for it. Firstly, they have all-you-can-eat chicken a few days a week for $7.99. They also have all-you-can-eat pork and chicken for $9.99, which is what I got. Along with all you can eat meat, you also get a choice of sides which you can order new each new plate. If you’re hungry, Hungry Harry’s will suit your need.

Secondly, their waitstaff is made of beautiful women. Aside from their beauty, they’re also incredibly knowledgeable. Every question I asked about their BBQ was answered quickly and concisely. You can’t go wrong with a belly full of good BBQ and a smart, pretty woman tending to your needs.

Lastly, it’s a “no frills” kind of restaurant, the way you’d picture a BBQ stand if it had a more permanent residence. This no-frills approach keeps your mind on your belly and the barbeque they serve.

This is where I have to apologize to my readers. I make a point of getting a “before” picture. I ended up jumping headlong into my plate as I was really hungry. So this is an “in progress” picture instead.

All in all, the food quality varied. The meat was excellent. Big portions, succulent smokey flavors throughout. The chicken (you can get white meat or dark) was large and sweet all the way through. The pork was your typical shredded variety, flavorful and delicious. I also managed to get a single bone of their ribs, which was tender enough to fall off the bone.

They also bring you a very large drink served in a styrofoam cup. I’d say it was somewhere around 40 oz. They serve Pepsi products, so I got a frothy Mugg Root Beer. It really hit the spot, and the waitress continually topped it off for me and gave me a lid to go.

Their sides, from what I experienced, had ups and downs. The potato was soft and hot inside, with a crunchy outer crust. While I usually like my potatoes a little stiff on the outside, this was bacon-crunchy. Since it’s all you can eat, I didn’t let this stop me. I ate all of the insides, discarding the rest. The collared greens were unremarkable. Not bad, simply unremarkable.

All in all, a great value for all-you-can-eat BBQ. If you find yourself in Seffner with an empty stomach, you’ll be hard pressed to do better than Hungry Harrys for the money.

Tucked away in along 56th street in Temple Terrace, this restaurant has all of the appeals you’d expect in high end Indian Cuisine. The smells of curry and garlic and turmeric fill the air both inside and out. The restaurant is elegant, featuring comfortable seating, spacious tables and friendly serving staff. Kara and I went with friends of ours from the Miata club, Mark and Pam. As they make fantastic dinner company, we wanted to dine in some place a bit nicer than the usual bar food we typically share.

I’ll freely admit that I don’t know enough about Indian culture to remember the names of the individual dishes, though I’ll do my best to describe them.

The first course included a set of three sauces and a dry, thin bread. This bread had a sesame taste to it and a bit of sweetness. It was quite tasty.

The sauces included a green sauce which was also a bit sweet, a vinegar and onion middle sauce and a dark thin sauce that tastes a bit salt and with a hint of curry. Each of the three were quite good and complimented the bread in a different way.

Mark ordered an appetizer of fried cheese in a smokey pepper sauce. Just spicy enough to open up your airways without being hot, the cheese had a wonderful texture. This was a surprising step into Indian Cuisine, as even Kara liked it. She typically shies away from both spicy foods and things she hasn’t tried before, but she agreed that this was quite good.

The main courses consisted of two dishes of a spinach sauce, one with chicken and one with lamb. I have always admired what India has done with lamb, so it was no surprise how tasty this was. The texture was creamy and mixed well with the starch of the rice, giving it a texture that was easily consumed by the heaping spoonful.

Kara elected for a chicken tikka masala. The chunks were soft and tender and the sauce was a nice compliment, not too spicy or rich. It was served with this fluffy and aromatic bread which had a slight crunch while still being warm and pliable.

Mark received a grilled chicken with separate dipping sauce. The chicken looked succulent and had a nice sear, obviously prepared by someone who could skillfully work a grill.

To finish our meal, we were all given complimentary rice pudding. It was too sweet for my tastes, obviously filled with honey and sugar. After a few bites, I had to put it down because it was simply too much to end a very filling meal with.

The four of us ate for just under $100, including gratuity. It also opened up both my mind and Kara’s mind to other Indian dishes, so we’ll be branching off into other local establishments to try more in the coming months.

Choose from a variety of cuisine – Spanish, Cuban, Italian, Greek and French – just by strolling down La Setima, the main street of the Historic District.  Share authentic tapas and a pitcher of Spanish sangria in a café atmosphere reminiscent of a Mediterranean village. 

Browse eclectic shops and art galleries or visit one of the museums.  See a “hand-rolled cigar” being made or just relax and “people watch” with a cup of Ybor’s famous cafe con leche.

Listen to the music of the night – jazz, blues, salsa, reggae and even hip-hop emanate from a selection of pubs, patio bars and nightclubs.  Ybor is alive with a variety of entertainment that makes it one of Florida’s top-ranked nightspots.

Founded by Vicente Martinez-Ybor as a cigar-manufacturing center, Ybor City today is one of only two National Historic Landmark Districts in Florida.  Red brick buildings, wrought iron balconies and narrow brick streets give it an old-world charm that is a refreshing change of pace from the beach and the mall.

Info taken form the Ybor City Chamber of Commerce, for more info :

Ybor City Visitor Information Center

Monday- Friday 10AM-5PM

Saturday 11AM- 5PM

Sunday 12PM- 5PM

813-241-8838

Info@ybor.org

Those looking for exercise, the Pinellas Trail runs right through downtown. You can ride, skate, jog or just walk along the trail all the way to the Dunedin Causeway which will take you over to remarkable Honeymoon Island. Or stop along the way and rent a sailboat or jetski to enjoy the tranquil waters of the Gulf of Mexico.

If watching is more you style, the spring training home of the Toronto Blue Jays of the American League brings some great baseball to town. Our own Dunedin Jays do very well through the summer months as well.

Something more sedate? How about sipping a nice cool (or hot) beverage on a lovely outdoor patio. Or perhaps art is more your taste? Dunedin has several galleries and centers for the culturally minded.

Want to come in from the water? Dunedin has a gorgeous marina, right within walking distance of downtown.

Come, relax and enjoy Florida at its best!

Info taken from Downtown Dunedin  Merchants Association visit their website for more info

The area’s population grew in 1842, after the Federal Armed Occupation Act of
1842 offered 160 acres to anyone who would bear arms and cultivate the land.
Early settlers included the Stevens, Stevenson and McMullen families, who
claimed and farmed large tracts of land. Prior to 1906, the area was known as
Clear Water Harbor. The name “Clear Water” is thought to have come
from a fresh water spring flowing from near where the City Hall building is
located today. There were many other freshwater springs that dotted the bayfront,
many in the bay itself, which were the reason for the crystal clear water found
there.

View north from Sand Key toward Clearwater Beach
Originally part of Hillsborough County, the first road joining Clearwater and
Tampa was built in 1849, which dramatically reduced the prior day-long commute
between the cities. The first US Post Office for Pinellas County was built on
the site of the present Turner Street Dock Park, circa 1859.

During the U.S. Civil War, Union gunboats repeatedly raided the city’s supplies
as most of the able-bodied men were away fighting for the Confederate States of
America army. The city began booming in late nineteenth century, prompted by
Peter Demens building the first passenger railroad line into the city 1888.
Clearwater was incorporated as a town in 1891 and James E. Crane became the
town’s first mayor.[5] The town’s reputation as a tourist destination grew in
popularity when Plant built the Belleview Biltmore in 1897.
Pinellas County Courthouse in Clearwater
By the early 1900s, Clearwater’s population had grown to around 400, ballooning
to nearly 1,000 in the winter. Clearwater was reincorporated, this time as a
city, on May 27, 1915, and made the county seat for Pinellas County, which
broke from Hillsborough County in 1912. Also in 1915, a bridge was built across
Clearwater Harbor, joining the city with modern-day Clearwater Beach. Remnants
of the original bridge still remain as boating hazards in the harbor’s
shallows.

During World War II, Clearwater became a major training base for U.S. troops
destined for Europe and the Pacific. Virtually every hotel in the area,
including the historic Belleview Biltmore and Fort Harrison Hotel, became
luxury barracks for new recruits. Vehicle traffic regularly stopped for
companies of soldiers marching through downtown, and nighttime blackouts to
confuse potential enemy bombers were common practice. The remote and isolated
Dan’s Island, now Sand Key, was used as a target for US Army Air Corps
fighter-bombers for strafing and bombing practice.

Source: Wikipedia®

Since I moved here, I’ve only found one thing close to an “authentic” Greek place. If I wanted to drive all the way to Tarpon Springs, there were selections there. But if I wanted to stay in Tampa, Acropolis Greek Tavern(1833 E 7th Ave, Tampa – (813) 242-4545) was as close as I was going to get to the tastes, smells and culture I was once a part of.

The sad fact I’ve found in Tampa when it comes to Greek food is that you can easily taste what might appear on the surface to be Greek food, but it’s no where near what I’d consider authentic. Almost every greasy spoon carries gyros and greek salads. Does putting feta on something really make it Greek? I beg to differ. Greek Cuisine is more than just feta and lamb. It’s the entire showcase. It’s the plate breaking, group dancing, hookah-smoking, opa-screaming, over-feeding lifeblood that pumps through every traditional Greek Tavern. Acropolis has that, even if it’s commercialized in that Ybor City/7th Avenue kind of way.

Four of us went out to Acropolis tonight, partaking in a variety of Greek foods. I started us off with an appetizer of Saganaki, the flaming kaseri cheese dish accompanying a hearty, “OPA!” as our waitress set the cheese ablaze. While the cheese was good, I really wish there was more of it. It’s somewhat addicting, both for the taste and the experience of fire and alcohol. There were days when I’d spend a night at the bar and end up finishing off my drunken rampage with 4 or 5 courses of this cheese. Tonight wasn’t going to be one of those nights, so matter how good it was.

Dereck and I both had the Acropolis Salad. A take on traditional greek salad including the potato salad and pita bread, this salad is literally too big to eat. It’s piled high with sliced lamb used for gyros and served with a side of feta-covered steak fries. I was starving when I got there and wasn’t able to finish it. Somehow, Dereck was able to eat all of his.

Kara got a pasta dish that looked like it was carved out of a 4″ thick slab of awesome. A thick layer of cheese, many layers of noodles and a full two inches of meat served hot. In keeping with the trend, she was full before she even ate half of it. They gave you so much food that you almost always end up taking it home. Dustan went with a non-greek favorite, the Filet Mignon. The steak was gone quickly, so it must have been good.

Aside from the great food, Acropolis has regular Grecian showmanship. Depending on the night, you’ll often find plate breaking during the traditional dance amongst the staff. A guitarist plays old country favorites while the staff claps and dances about. If you’ve ever been to a Greek Wedding (or seen the movie!), you’ll recognize this instantly. It’s a lot of fun, including the napkin toss. Even on slow nights, you can see the remnants of napkins all over the floors from previous dances.

Another perk of Acropolis is their hookah selection. With your meal, you can smoke any number of flavored tobaccos in one of their hookahs. While I don’t generally smoke with my meals, it’s a nice change if you’re going to make a night of it and want to relax outside with friends.

The atmosphere is fun, and the waitstaff is both cordial and attentive. When I asked if I could take a few pictures of the bar, the staff gathered together so I could get a group photo as well. This is the kind of place that everyone seems happy to be, including those who work there.

Since we had a long night ahead of us, we decided to stuff ourselves. Given the large portion sizes and reasonable prices, this wasn’t a difficult thing to do. We started out with the gator tails, which were just as I expected them to be. Big meaty pieces topped a plate of fries, all fried to a golden brown. The portions weren’t chewy and the sauce was just right. My only real complaint is that I ended up eating so much of these that I didn’t get to enjoy very much of my main course.

For the main course, Dereck and I opted for fully loaded nachos. These nachos went beyond standard nacho fair, particularly with the inclusion of sweet pulled pork. Normally, I don’t like sweet and salty combined, but the sugar glazes pork made a powerful combination with the two kinds of cheese, chips, chicken, chili, black olives, green onions and tomatoes. Every bite was well saturated with toppings, so there weren’t a lot of lost chips in the pile.

After eating half of the nachos, I ended up taking the rest home. They weren’t too bad reheated, which is a rarity amongst chip dishes. I think it was all the meat and cheese, as the chips really became a side note to the rest of the meal.

I was amazed by how incredibly busy it was. Granted, it was a Sunday morning. Further granted, there were people lined up out the door talking about how good the food is. That’s always a good sign.

Despite being busy, we were seated quickly and our drinks came out within 5 minutes. Our waitress, a high energy fast talking pro if I’ve ever seen one, knew exactly when to come by, what do ask and what to recommend. She streamlined the whole process, making recommendations that we agreed with. Kara ordered the Ham and Cheese Skillet with pancakes and I ordered the Steak and Bacon Special Omelette with Hollandaise sauce.

While waiting, I took note of the exceptional portion sizes in everything they brought out. It was most certainly enough to fill anyone, and I don’t see how anyone could finish some of these dishes. While most diners give you a good amount of food, Pach’s steps up the ante with platter size portions on just about everything they serve.

When my dish arrived, I could smell the Hollandaise sauce before it even came to the table. When they say smothered, they mean it. A thick coat of Hollandaise sauce covered the quiche-like egg mixture with bits of bacon and steak sticking out all around. I forked off a fluffy piece of the mixture, dabbed it in the sauce and took my first bite. It was magical, like a two-nacorn. I know it sounds silly to compare a meal to a two-horned unicorn, but it was that good. The steak and bacon were both done exactly right, being just greasy and salty enough to get your attention but not overwhelming the rest of the dish. The hollandaise sauce gave a semi sweet coat to the eggs and onions and drew the dish together. Every bite I took was savored. This may very well be the best breakfast that I’ve ever had.

Kara’s dish was just as amazing looking and the few bites I stole were exceptional. The egg they use on these skillets is fluffy and light and there’s lots of it. They probably use 3 or 4 eggs in one of these. The egg sits on a pile of large chunks of griddled ham and potatoes. Everything about it seemed fresh and light all while having the oily overtone that makes a breakfast like this taste so wonderful. Kara, who is usually a picky eater and never finishes anything, goggled this up quickly.

The only disappointment I had in my meal was the biscuit and gravy that came with it. The gravy was flavorful and thick, just how I like it. Infact, if I didn’t already have Hollandaise sauce, I would have poured the gravy on my dish and really gluttoned it up. But the gravy was the only winner in this dish. The biscuit was hard, flavorless, dry and, even with the gravy, couldn’t be made into anything resembling food. After two bites, I gave up on the biscuit all together.

Once Kara blew through her skillet, she ate some of the pancakes (which she said were really good) and then realized she was too full to go on. Here’s how she left the pancakes, one untouched and one half eaten.

As we got up to waddle out to the car, we paid at the register (less than $20! for both of us to get stuffed!). I looked back at the cook doing what he does best. In all this chaos with 100 people coming in and out of this place, the staff kept their cool right out in the open.

I was so impressed by Pach’s that I’m going to make a regular ordeal of it. They have a crabmeat, broccoli and Morney sauce omelette that is calling my name next Sunday.

Since they do full liquor, Kara ordered a margarita. It was a strong drink, so kudos for the value. It wasn’t half bad tasting either.

The food is typical bar food, whatever can be deep fried or thrown together quickly. This leads to relatively quick service and the food is alright, but nothing I’d marvel over. Since I had a coupon from the Entertainment Book for Buy One Get One Entrees, Kara and I ended up getting a Buffalo Wrap and a Patty Melt, both with fries.

The patty melt wasn’t bad. It was stacked pretty thick, still greasy and filled with the sauteed onions that make a patty melt so delicious. This was pretty fulfilling.

The wrap, on the other hand, was kind of weak. There was very little actual chicken in the wrap. A bed of lettuce provided most of the volume, small slivers of chicken particles doused in sauce made up the rest. The sauce was good, somewhere around a Frank’s Red Hot in flavor.

The fries were sub-par. Not only were they flavorless, but they were cold inside and gooey. Some were better than others, but as a whole the fries I definitely could have done without.

The atmosphere reminded me a lot of a 1950 diner. Neon lights lit up the bar. Black, white and red colors were used throughout, giving it that fun soda shop feel.

I am curious to try their wings and their half pound burgers, so I’ll make another trip to report at some later date.

I’ve been to places from Hardees (pork chop sammich, $3, fried and dried, likely to give you a stomach ache) to places like luxury steakhouses that served pork undercooked, overcooked, slathered in too much sauce or otherwise.. well.. not right. I’m afraid to even consider a pork chop made any other way than BBQ for fear that it would be inedible.

Enter Carmine’s on 7th Avenue in Ybor. The decor is a mix of bar-scene and fine tavern. The waitstaff is friendly and accommodating. When I threw out the, “You tell me what you like.” to the waitress, she didn’t even flinch. “Deviled crab and pork chops are my two favorites, and I eat here all the time.” So the expert spoketh, so I eateth. The pork chops, that is.

Our waitress brought out a Mojito for both of us. It was strong, the way the Cubans make it, and it was not so overly sweet that it ruined the drink. It was a nice balance, and the whole mint leaves accented by didn’t overcrowd.

The service was overall very pretty prompt, and she can back as needed to check on us. I was doing this review over a lunch meeting with a colleague, so perhaps the time passed even faster than I thought. Seemingly, we ordered and within 10 minutes had bread sticks, spaghetti and pork chops glazed in an au jus style sauce with mushrooms. The chops were done well, and not overly done. The dinner knives they have are not the hardcore steak variety, so I was expecting a fight. I was pleasantly surprised. Knife in and out, clean slice showing a perfect muscular center with a good grain that was delicate but firm. It’s that visual dichotomy in pork that is rare no matter how you prepare it, and especially rare outside of slow cooked pork.

The first bite was a wonderful combination of the beef overtones of the gravy, the subtle hints of garlic and pepper with the mushrooms and pork that was more melt than chew. Bite after bite, the pork chops did not disappoint. The portions were good size and well balanced with the sauce, that didn’t overpower but didn’t fall short either. I’d have to say these are some of the best pork chops I’ve ever had.. and at less than a tenth of the price that I’ve paid in other places.

The followup to the pork was side dish of spaghetti. Simple, elegant, not too filling, not too much. Just right, and with a red sauce that was thick and succulent. While many places that serve spaghetti as a main dish do so to overpower your palette, either by a sauce too strong or a noodle too thick, this made a nice side dish. No complaints.

The bread basket was so-so. By the point I got to it, I was using it to sop up both spaghetti sauce and the pork chop gravy, so again, no complaints. It served it’s purpose well. I was so stuffed and overwhelmed by the rest of the meal that the bread got a free pass.

While I went for lunch, I’d imagine the dinner would be just as good. The trick is finding the place. I’ve literally driven by it thousands of times and never seen it. I drink across the street at the Boneyard. I get tattooed across the street at Las Vegas Tattoo. I’ve been to Acropolis, a block down. In all this time, I’ve never seen it until it was recommended to me. So I, dear reader, am recommending it to you.

Carmine’s Seventh Avenue
1802 E 7th Ave
Yrbor City, 33605
(813) 248-3834

Also, not to disappoint, some photos of my pork chop adventure at Carmine’s:

Located in the Embassy Suites (2nd floor of the hotel), this bar-formal diner-outside pavillion has a wonderful view of the pool and is just high enough to see a good distance over the Westshore area. The view is as nice as you’d expect from any hotel balcony.

The service wasn’t bad once we were able to attract attention. Our server, Melissa, was friendly and cordial, knowing well enough to bring us a pitcher of Diet Coke instead of continually running out to fill up our glasses.

The food was average restaurant quality, but at a much higher price tag. Dereck had a grouper sandwich and potato salad, which came to $14, about twice what I paid for a Grouper sandwich from Rick’s on the River just a few days before. The sandwich was quite large, but with no tartar sauce or anything to pull the dish together other than what looked to be wilted lettuce and a tomato, there was nothing stunning about it.

I elected for the Grouper Plate, a blackened grouper fillet with salad, vegetables and rice. The grouper was good, well flavored with a crispy blackened top and bottom. The vegetables were sauteed in butter and seasoned lightly. A good mix, without overpowering the fish. My disappointment was mostly in the rice, which was dry, hard and unappetizing. Again the dish was priced substantially higher than I thought it would be at $20, but the food quality wasn’t bad overall.

I decided to finish my dinner with an $8 slice of key lime pie. It was beautifully plated with a nice side of strawberries, whip cream and lime wedges. Creamy and fluffy and light all the way through, this was a nice finish. Was it worth eight bucks? Probably not. But it was good. Our meal came out to approximately $50. Even with the $25 gift certificate, we still paid a good chunk out of pocket more than we were planning to.

What’s the lesson learned? Don’t eat in hotels unless you’re staying there or really like paying for overpriced food.

We’ll start with the actual building itself. A little place with one table as the dining room is hardly the atmosphere I came to know and love from the Uno name. When you enter the small dining area, you’re immediately met with a counter, a bare wall and a bad attitude. Even when they are not busy, the three men in the background seem grouchy, either ignoring their customers all together or snapping at them when they go to order. I was immediately put off by their attitude and the dull and uninviting nature of the restaurant.

I decided to order a philly steak sandwich, as it’s generally universally impossible to mess up philly steak. Begrudgingly, the guy behind the counter took my order said, “Give me 5 minutes”. I sat down and waited. 17 minutes later, he arrived with my white carryout container with a sandwich in it. Never once did he ask if I wanted to eat it here, or wanted a drink. He simply assumed that this would be a to-go and sent me on my way. I accepted, as just being here was making me uncomfortable.

The sandwich was absolutely everything I hate about the fast food industry. Firstly, the sandwich itself was smaller than I expected. When I pay close to $10 for a sandwich, I expect a foot long with lots of content. What I got was maybe 9″ of sandwich with dried out bread, tough meat and a disguising layer of cheese which was fooling no one.

The included pickle had no snap, no crunch. It was warm and lacked much flavor. The steak, even after grinding it with my tough repeatedly, was difficult to chew. It was as if they had some steak left over from the night before and just tossed it into a hoagie. Overall, very disappointing.

While I’m sure they aren’t connected to the famous Pizza Uno, it’s important to note that so others don’t make the same mistake I did. Lousy attitude, lousier food and no bargain, Pizza Uno is largo is the kind of crap I avoid all together.

The restaurant is nestled into the back of a strip mall along Starkey Road, all but hidden if you’re not looking for it. The building itself is unassuming, glass windows and a sidewalk lined with red and white umbrellas.

The inside is your typical diner attempting to imitate a Greek restaurant, filled with faux greek luxury, grape vines and similar archetypal relics. The waitstaff is courteous and quick, both to take the order and bring it out.

While we waited, they brought out a loaf of thickly sliced green bread. It wasn’t warm so the butter didn’t melt, but it also wasn’t like it was old and had been sitting out. While I was unimpressed with the bread, it was nice that they were prompt in bringing it out.

For the main course, I ordered the Gyro and Salad combo lunch. At $7, this gyro and salad are both quite large and filling. The salad is your typical Greek, including a dollop of potato salad in the center. All of the vegetables with fresh and the dressing was a bit too sweet for my tastes. It is a very filling salad, and probably wouldn’t have been enough by itself.

The gyro was definitely the star of the show. The waitress told me that this location alone serves up over 1000 gyros per week. I believe it, especially considering the price and the size. This was the largest pita I recall ever seeing and it was stuffed to the gills with lamb, red onions, tomatos and Tzatziki Sauce. Every bite was refreshing and satisfying. This is the way a gyro should be made.

I’ve been back to Athenian several times since and the service and food have all been consistent. While I definitely wouldn’t pick it over a place like Acropolis or even Little Greek, I’ve been impressed by their repeat performances and make this a part of my weekly rotation while in Largo.

The restaurant is more than just food and fond memories, as there are car shows and other events held here regularly. On the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of the month, a classic car show is help that often brings out 100 or more cars.

Since I was there for breakfast, I decided to order the Ham Steak. The waitress advised me, “That’s a big piece of ham, you know. You may be taking some with you.” I felt I was up to the challenge. The food arrived in about 10 minutes, just enough time for me to fully take in all of the neon wall art and the packed dining room.

The ham steak really was as big as she said. I’m guestimating the platter at 12″ x 8″ and it filled the whole platter at about a 1/4″ thick. This bone-in ham was deliciously cooked with just enough blackened spots to bring the sweet ham some sizzle. The eggs and hashbrowns I ordered with it are pretty standard for a diner like this. The chef got the over-easy call on the eggs right and whatever oil they cook the potatoes in was flavorful. I’d imagine their pans or skillet are good and seasoned from so many years of cooking this great comfort food that everything tastes a bit like everything made before it. I’m definitely not complaining.

When: Sunday, September 27th from 7:30-11 pm
Where: NOVA 535 at 535 Dr. Martin Luther King Street North, St. Petersburg FL 33701
Cost: Admission is free. NOVA 535 will provide complementary champagne and hors d’ouvres.

NOVA 535, a unique event space and modern art lounge, will host a free party for the debut of the action-packed “Bridezilla” episode that was filmed in part on its premises. Florida resident and “Bridezilla” star, Kirsten Stiff, daughter of Cindy and Robert Stiff (formerly of The Evening Independent), will host the party with the help of award-winning filmmaker and groom Seth Walker.

Although she’s also been featured on a season of the WE TV reality show, “American Princess” actress/choreographer/dancer/vocal instructor/doggie tutu designer Kirsten Stiff is not your typical boring reality TV star.

“As I said on “American Princess,” ‘You either love me or you hate me.’ but this time on “Bridezilla,” I have a feeling you’ll hate me. Oops!” she laughs, adding “I still love you!”

An active member of her community, Stiff’s “bridezillaness” is up for debate. A founder of multiple performance art organizations nationwide, Stiff also donates a percentage of the profits from her doggie tutu line “Princess Lola’s Tutus” to local non-kill animal shelters. “Reality TV brings out the actress in me,” she admits, “But at the end of the day I hope bringing cameras to Florida will ultimately help local businesses.”

Those present at NOVA 535 on Sunday for Stiff’s “Bridezilla” premiere will be able to watch cameras follow her through Ybor City, Clearwater, St. Petersburg, Dunedin and Sarasota as she brings national attention and a touch of insanity to her home state. “I’m not all bad!” she promises.

Dustan and I decided to go because we were in the mood for something plainly American on a lazy Saturday afternoon. While hunting for a Wing House, we passed Cheddars and noticed they weren’t that busy. Thus, my second attempt at Cheddars began. When we came to the front door, we were immediately greeted by a friendly set of people who sat us immediately.

The restaurant was actually a lot busier than I had thought, but we were still seated right away. I noticed as I walked through the dining area that this neat fan was installed facing the skylight. This was a step up form what I expected in a place like this, and it added a touch of rustic charm.

Since Dustan and I were both hungry, we ordered an appetizer, the kind of Combo Plate that gives you a bit of everything. This cornucopia of bar food included some fried chicken tenders, potato skins and large single-slice nachos. It’s important to note that the platter these come on is quite large and this is probably enough to feed two people by itself, but we proceeded with this and entrees as well.

The appetizers were good enough. Potato skins were a little rubbery and greasy, but otherwise the tray had a nice balance of meaty and pronounced flavors without being too fatty or too dry. The nachos were actually quite dense and heavy, thanks to a hefty layer of cheese over a hefty layer of beef. The chicken tenders, thick with chunks of white meat, came with a honey mustard dipping sauce which pushed them over the top. Very good, especially considering how light the breading was. They were just done enough, not overly fried, not overly oily and still rich in taste.

For my lunch, I decided to go with something that usually terrifies me, the Monte Cristo. Anyone who has ever ordered a Monte Cristo knows that you’ll never get the same sandwich as you ordered last time. Some places deep fry them in pancake dough, others in a light flour. Some coat in powder sugar and serve with a jam or jelly. Others coat in syrup. Some fill with ham, cheese and turkey, some missing one or more of the components. It’s truly an interpretive dish and very few get it the way I like it. Cheddars surpassed my expectations.

Not only did they have all of the meats and cheeses covered, but they used fresh (not crappy processed deli) meats. The cheese were abundant, hot and flowing from the slices. Whatever they used to coat it before frying it made the sandwich light and fluffy and hot, but not crunchy on the outside. The light powder sugar and the raspberry jam on the side were exactly what I was looking for. This way, I can choose how sweet I want it. Despite being very fully less than half way through the sandwich, I was very pleased with it and took the rest home to eat later. The fries it came with were acceptable, but I simply didn’t have room for many of them considering the portion size and the appetizer.

Dustan ordered the country fried steak, something I’ve seen him order many places and complain about in a good portion of them. He says this was very good, including providing enough gravy to cover both the mashed potatoes and the steak itself. The texas toast slice was also good, he remarked.