Food

On a hot Summer day like today, an ice cream truck could make a killing.  There is one particular ice cream truck that would be sufficient to get me out of my pool or air conditioned house and runing to the curb like an eight-year-old kid with his mother's money. Sadly, this truck is 1200 miles North in New York City.

While I have no idea what curried coconut tastes like on soft serve, I am the sort of shameless foodie that would rise to the occasion and suffer through his entire menu--several times, in fact, just to be sure.

Here it is, the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck.  Enjoy the link and stay cool.

Obligatory Seminole Heights relevance:  We have just this sort of experimental food here in the Heights over at the Refinery. 

Taco Bus is now a well-know restaurant in Seminole Heights. Writing a review on it seems a little silly, really, as most people I know have probably eaten there at least once if not many times.  The owner, chef Rene Valenzuela, has supported the neighborhood for years.  He holds events, contests, and concerts from time to time.  

Taco Bus, best known for its popular, traditional-style tacos, is also the best kept secret in vegetarian dining in Tampa Bay.  Chef Rene Valenzuela is looking to increase the vegan offerings in his restaurants.  If you have a vegan taco recipe that you would like to share, now is your chance to get it on the menu of a popular neighborhood eatery.

In the past ten years, an old gas station on the corner of Idlewild and Nebraska avenues has gone through numerous changes.  From pawn shop to used appliance dealer to used car dealer.  Finally, it has turned into something the area is hungry for--a restaurant. 

We are on a Mexican trend in Seminole Heights.  Two weeks ago, Taco Ola! opened up on the corner of Sligh and Florida avenues.  This tiny little taco joint claimed to serve up traditional Mexican tacos which is a boast I had to go investigate.

Here we are again, writing about food in Seminole Heights.  What do we need more than one Mexican restaurant in the area? Two, of course.  And now we've got it.  Just a block East of the famous Taco Bus is a new restaurant called Garibaldis. 

"Next Door?!" You may be wondering. These two restaurants can easily survive this close to each other because they are quite different in the experience they offer.  I've highly recommended the Taco Bus to anyone that will listen.  Well, after my first taste, I think Garibaldis will earn a spot on my list of regular eateries.

I had heard that the Refinery was still serving some of the old Bistro's menu while they got their legs beneath them and made some changes.  A guest and I decided to visit the Refinery after they pulled together their first all-Refinery menu.  Some of the other foodies in the area were talking about the unusual food combinations we could expect from the Bakers and I could not wait to sample their craft.