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Jackie Colson-Miller

Jackie Colson-Miller, CIPS
Certified International Property Specialist
NAR Liaison to Austria
Tampa Real Estate
Direct - (813)629-5757
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3401 Henderson Blvd
Tampa, FL 33609
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Tampa Restaurant Reviews





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'Restaurants in Tampa'

        

Boca Kitchen Bar Is “Smokin”…New Restaurant Opens in Hyde Park

Filed under: Best Areas to Live in Tampa, Best Places, Best Places in Tampa, Best Tampa Neighborhoods, CIPS, Hyde Park Real Estate, Living in Downtown Tampa, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Restaurants in Tampa, South Tampa, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent

I have been driving past Boca for several weeks, in the old “Smoke” space on Platt St.   Happy to see “Smoke” evaporate(you can find that review here, too), I was looking forward to a new look, AND, a much better menu.
I made reservations for lunch, and was joined by my favorite “foodie” friend, which is always an epicurean adventure of multiple courses! Thankfully, they have enclosed the outdoor patio, so the space itself is much roomier AND air conditioned. We were promptly greeted by Erika, who, truly, ranks among the “rock stars” of wait staff. She was beyond attentive and, by the time we got to dessert, I think she was “reading our minds”. More on that later…
We decided to share one of the Flatbreads as a first course, and my friend wanted one with the Burrata Cheese, so we ordered the So-Cal…Spicy Tomato Jam, Tomato, Burrata Cheese and Basil Pesto. The toppings were absolutely the freshest, but the crust was a little tough and it needed some salt. No salt, or pepper, on the table, is one of my pet peeves, but Erika promptly brought us some fresh sea salt and pepper. ** Note to all restaurants**…please put salt and pepper on the table!
Our Entrees were the Steak & Egg Salad, and one of the day’s specials, an Oyster PoBoy with Homemade Chips.
I like my steak to “moo” and my eggs to “cheep”, or they are too well done. I am very specific when I place an order and the kitchen delivered the dish perfectly…Grilled Flank Steak, Grilled Radiccio and Frisee Greens with a fresh fried egg and a blue cheese crumble vinaigrette, all done with the appropriate “rareness”. It was fabulous…and HUGE!


Not a fan of Oysters, I had to trust my friend when she showered praise on her PoBoy, especially the house-baked Ciabbata bread and fresh horseradish on the side. Now, really full, but what’s a food review without dessert, right? In deciding to “share”, we were discussing our options in front of Erika and had narrowed it to Hot Chocolate Truffle “Bon Bons” with Strawberry Fields Cream or The Homage to Ybor…a red apple cobbler with dolce de Leche Ice Cream, Nutella Ganache and smoke Coconut Crumb. We never actually “told” Erika what our choice was, but she overheard me discuss my aversion to Strawberry(and only Strawberry) Ice Cream and placed our order for the Homage to Ybor. Great service!
Upon exiting, we were greeted by the chef, Chad McColgin, who took our “flatbread” critique very well and we chatted about our enjoyable dining experience. We left with a basket of assorted, locally grown tomatoes, as Boca Kitchen Bar is also a “market” for some local produce and unique products made in-house.
I can’t wait to head back to Boca for dinner!
Boca Kitchen Bar Market on Urbanspoon

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Posted by jackie   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   03.21.2012

Cafe Pont Pleases the Palate

Filed under: Best Places, Best Places in Tampa, Restaurants in St Pete, Restaurants in Tampa, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Market, Things to do in Tampa

Located in an unassuming strip mall in Largo, Cafe Pont is the perfect example of “Never Judge a Book by it’s Cover”! I have been enjoying this fabulous restaurant for many years, but after a recent dining experience with some friends who had never been there, I had to put it back on my “dine more often” list.

Osso Bucco

From start to finish, Cafe Pont is always amazing.  We enjoyed sips of Mushroom Bisque and Pumpkin Curry Crab Bisque, while awaiting our first course.  All agreed that our choices were delicious: from the Beefsteak Salad and Beet Salad  to the Sea Bass and THREE orders of Osso Bucco, we were very happy.  For dessert, we ordered a Raspberry Creme Brulee, Chocolate Tart and Artisinal Cheese Plate.  A selection of assorted chocolates topped the finish to a lovely evening. A bottle of Ferrari Carano Tresor was the perfect wine on a perfect night!

Cafe Ponte on Urbanspoon

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Posted by jackie   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   11.10.2011

“Pearl in the Grove”…A Little Jewel in Dade City…Make the Drive!

Filed under: Best Places in Tampa, Buying a House in Tampa, Restaurants in Tampa, Tampa Real Estate

My friend has been trying to get me to drive to Dade City to try “a great new place” for many, many months.  It’s about an hour drive from South Tampa. She coerced me with some antique shopping AND agreed to drive, and it was DEFINITELY worth the trip! To my surprise, I had met the chef/owner, Curtis Beebe and his wife, Rebecca, many years ago, at a dinner party in South Tampa.  Thirteen years ago, they left South Tampa for Dade City,  have raised their three boys there,  and opened “Pearl in the Grove” last year. It was great to see them again.

The dining room was full on Saturday night.  We were warmly greeted by Rebecca and promptly attended to by our server, Boyce.  The menu is a “twist” of Southern specialties with a “nibble” of hot boiled peanuts to start. The bread was  unique, with a touch of corn meal in the batter!   The “Geeno” chips are a MUST! Decadent and delicious…Fried Sweet Potato Chips, topped with melted blue cheese and balsamic vinegar.  The portion would feed a party of six!

The Underground Salad was a fresh, and light, medley of locally grown herbs, watermelon, goat cheese, a hint of mint, and a kumquat and vidalia vinaigrette.  We also tried the Summer Relish Plate with the Fried Green tomatoes, field pea “caviar” and bread and butter pickles.  Aside from the yummy pickles, of the entire meal, this was my only disappointment.

Our entrees were the Catfish and Grits and the Porkbelly Roulade.  At this point, we were feeling a little “porky” ourselves and decided it was time to share.  The tasty catfish beignets were served with a spicy homemade remoulade, smoked tomato grit cakes and some fresh grilled okra and green beans.  The  Hickory Smoked Pork Belly was rolled with carmelized onion and served with a potato tart, along with the grilled vegetables.  If you like bacon, you will “die” for that pork belly.  It was  all fabulous.

Totally satiated, but determined to “taste everything” , our dessert plate was a trio of  the Rich Chocolate Cake, a Lemon Cake with Strawberry Buttercream frosting and a slice of Curtis’ Homemade Lemon Cheesecake…that was the clear winner, though the Chocolate Cake was moist and yummy, as well.

We enjoyed a Block Nine Pinot Noir with the meal, though you can bring your own wine, if you prefer.

Overall, it was a wonderful dining experience.  Trust me…make the trip to Dade City.  And tell Curtis, Rebecca and Boyce that I sent you.  It was clear from all of the great food ,and local diners, that night that “Pearl in the Grove” is well on it’s way to being a bright spot on the Restaurant Scene in the area!

You can read my other restaurant reviews on Urban Spoon!
Pearl in the Grove on Urbanspoon

Looking for the Best Neighborhoods in Tampa, The Best School Districts in Tampa, or need help with Relocation to Tampa? Contact me today!

 

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Posted by jackie   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   09.21.2011

Restaurant Week Launch Party…My “Winning Picks”…Tampa Real Estate News and more!

Filed under: Best Places, Restaurants in St Pete, Restaurants in Tampa, Tampa Real Estate

Last night was the Launch Party for Dine Tampa Bay’s Restaurant Week, which takes place from August 19 – September 2. Over 40 of the Tampa Bay Area restaurants will be offering prix-fixe menus and several of the restaurants offered “samples” last night, so here are my “winners” and “losers” from the evening events!

The highlight of the night was a “celebrity chef/news personality” team cook-off. Five teams were given a bag of ingredients, on the order of the Reality show, “Chopped”, and had to create a unique dish in TWENTY minutes. The chef could only counsel the media celebrity…no touching, or cooking, allowed. The “mystery bag” contained chicken cutlets, broccoli florets, greek yogurt, guava paste and “cheese in a spray can”….no doubt the “challenge” ingredient in the bunch. Yes, they had some spices and condiments to work with, but as they shouted “Ready, Set, Go”, I wandered among the “cooking teams” making mental notes of who I thought the winner should be. I quickly honed in on the Preston Rudie(10 News) and Gerry Myalynowsky (Puff n Stuff Catering),team, who had created a “roulade” filled with the broccoli and cheese and were busily working on sauce with the guava paste. They offered me a taste and extracted my opinion. “Too Sweet”, I said. Gerry said, “Listen to the lady” and Preston followed the instruction, adding a few ingredients to “soften” the “sweet” and when they whisked the yogurt into the mix, sliced the roulade and plated it perfectly….I predicted their win! And, win, they did! Kudos…Preston has hidden talents in the kitchen! And, Gerry provided an amazing “fig” appetizer for all of us to “nosh” on throughout the night. I want that recipe! They were both “winners” all the way around.

A few restaurants from the group participating in Restaurant Week were offering samples from their menus. I would have liked EVERY sample to come from the Restaurant Week menus, because they might have swayed me to add a few more restaurants to my “already reserved” list. Restaurant Week is a great opportunity for chefs to “step outside the box” and create a unique menu, not just selections from the regular menu. That’s MY opinion, for what it’s worth.

Here are my thoughts on what I sampled last night:

Melting Pot: No Fondue in sight! They offered a “Bruschetta” from their appetizer menu. It was very tasty: Salmon, Capers and Sun-dried tomatoes were perfectly blended atop a slice of toasted baguette. It would be perfectly paired with a light, white wine, like a Sauvignon Blanc. It was a “Winner”.

Melting Pot on Urbanspoon

Bella’s: This “South Tampa” staple has been turning out consistent food for many years. It was great to see Larry, who has been with Bella’s for the duration! Their bruschetta and chopped salad have been pleasing palates for years. Last night was no exception. Yes, they were simple and not “outside the box”, but no complaints. “Winner”.

Bella's Italian Cafe on Urbanspoon

Grillsmith: This local chain offers one of the best menus when you need ” something for everyone”. It is one of my favorite places to take clients for lunch, kids for dinner, or nibble on something with a glass of wine in the bar. I admit, that I usually order the same few things, so I was happy to step outside of “my” box and will be adding their offerings to my next visit. The lemon feta chicken was a yummy melange of chicken, artichoke, sun-dried tomatoes, feta cheese, basil and lemon butter sauce. Delicious! Their “Voodoo Shrimp” was perfectly seasoned with a creole seasoning and served on buttered, toasted baguette. It was a “win” for Grillsmith.

Grillsmith on Urbanspoon

Chart House: I know the Chart House from my college years in Rhode Island, but I had yet to visit their latest venture in the former “Landry’s” space on the Courtney Campbell Causeway. Their “nibble” last night was very popular! it was a Crab Mango Stack: a base of avocado, topped with fresh, spicy, mango salsa, lump crabmeat, remoulade sauce and a few slices of crispy wonton. BIG WIN!

Chart House on Urbanspoon

Roy’s: This was my only disappointment of the evening. Roy’s “taste” was a butterfish in a soy glaze, topped with caviar. The fish was fresh, but the dish was overwhelmingly salty. I pushed the caviar aside after the first bite, but it was still “too salty”…too much soy sauce, or too much salt? No idea…but, sorry,
Roy’s was a “Loser”.

Roy's on Urbanspoon

Be sure to make reservations for Restaurant Week! I already have four reservations and am working on a few more! Check out the menus and make your plans early. I guarantee the best places will be booked very soon!

If you “spot me” in any of the Featured Restaurants during Restaurant Week, please stop by my table and say “hi”. I’ll be blogging on my all of my dining experiences all along the way!

Like this??? Please share it, or “tweet” it with your friends….

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Posted by jackie   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   07.29.2011

Great Tampa Restaurants…Byblos…A Middle Eastern Delight

Filed under: Best Places in Tampa, Best Tampa Neighborhoods, Buying a House in Tampa, Restaurants in Tampa, South Tampa, Tampa Neighborhoods, Tampa Real Estate, Tampa Real Estate Agent, Tampa Real Estate Market

The Latest on The Tampa Real Estate Market, Best Tampa neighborhoods and Everything about Living in Tampa, Every Day on The Real Estate Sizzle.

Here is another article in my “Best Places to Eat in Tampa”…

I have been dining at Byblos for lunch for YEARS and it is one of my long-time favorites in South Tampa.  The wraps, the schwarma, the falafel, the grape leaves. ..It is all fabulous and perfectly spiced. I love the olive oil and spices to dip the pita bread, too.  The crowd, and the ambiance, changes when they dim the lights and get ready for the dinner crowd.  The bar is generally full and the “highly requested” corner booths for six, are “curtained and comfy”!  It’s a lively crowd and an expanded menu from the lunch offerings and with a nice assortment of meze, if you just feel like grazing.   Arriving without reservations, on a busy Friday night, it was PACKED.  The hostess offered us “the bed”. Bed? Yes, there is a curtained table in a quiet corner next to the bar that is attached to a bed…full of pillows and a great place for  lounging. We enjoyed some Beef Schwarma and Lamb Shanks, then settled in to enjoy the “belly dancer” as the night wore on.  Lunch, or dinner, Byblos food and service never disappoints me!

I can help with your move to any Tampa neighborhood, including: South Tampa, Channelside, Harbour Island, Davis Islands, Beach Park, Sunset Park, Hyde Park, Culbreath Isles, Palma Ceia, Westchase, Waterchase, Odessa, Cheval, Avila, Brandon, Riverview, FishHawk, New Tampa, Tampa Palms, Hunters Green, Arbor Greene, Apollo Beach, South Shore, MiraBay, Golf Communities, Clearwater Beach, Waterfront Homes, Luxury Homes in Tampa, Condos in Tampa and International Real Estate contact me today!

For assistance in finding a house in Tampa, or any of the surrounding suburbs, or any questions about the Tampa Real Estate market, please contact me. PCS to MacDill AFB or Moving to Tampa?

I can help you find the perfect home, AND recommend a great restaurant. Read my restaurant reviews on Urban Spoon…just click on the link below!

RealEstateSizzle.com Tampa Bay restaurants

Byblos Cafe on Urbanspoon

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Posted by jackie   |   Click Here To Comment »   |   04.03.2011