Dena Loves Food

Munchies 4:20 Cafe - Sarasota

2013-02-01T02:31:00.000-05:00

Isn't it an honor to eat at a restaurant that was featured on the Food Channel? Well this might not be my first but is my first one I've been too that was featured on Man Vs. Food, or so I believe.

While on a trip in Sarasota we hit up Munchies 4:20 as our last place to eat. We didn't do the scary wing challenge but we did indulge in some munchies here at Munchies 4:20. I honestly wouldn't be interested in coming here only because I'm not a big fan of American food (burgers, cheese, grease and more sloppy goodness) but it doesn't hurt to spoil yourself once in awhile.

This ain't the classiest of places but it gets the job done. There's only a few tables here in the small restaurant and all the food is served as take out so if you're dinning in make sure to clean up after yourself. The service is pretty slow but we still got our food in a timely manner.

The menu is pretty basic and I would have to say it's pretty cheap and you get an super sized amount of food. We had to take home more than half of the meals we ordered.

My friend got the Alamo Burger which was pretty good. All the food was pretty hefty so eating the whole thing might be an clogged artery waiting. I really enjoyed this burger because of the unique blend of chili and sour cream.

I got the Garbage Philly Steak which was pretty much everything loaded in one loaf of bread. It wasn't bad nor was it something I loved. It was massive though! I also ordered some Mac & Cheese bites because it sounded interesting. I must say these were pretty unique and trust me when I say you have to dip the bites into the cheese dip. I'm not sure why it needed more cheese but it tasted way better with extra cheese sauce!

Close up on the Mac & Cheese bites. It amazes me how almost everything can be fried up and taste even better than the original.

The restaurant's name really describes this whole restaurant. You must really have the munchies to enjoy food at Munchies 4:20. I don't think this place appeals to me but I did have a fun time trying the food here. The amount of food is pretty awesome if you're looking for cheap food and massive food. It's also pretty chill and a great in and out place.

I'm not lying about how massive the food is! I'm holding just half of a burger and it's probably larger than my hand! Yikes.

Munchies 4:20 Cafe - Sarasota

6639 Superior Ave
Sarasota, FL 34231

(941) 929-9893

http://www.munchies420cafe.com

Jack Dusty - YELP Event and Sarasota weekend feast

2013-02-01T02:28:00.000-05:00

I was lucky enough to be able to attend Jack Dusty's YELP event at the Ritz the past couple weekends ago. I must say it was a very well put together event that was creative, fun and also delicious. This restaurant brings the sea to you with fresh seafood and good entertainment. I absolutely love the interior design which brings the complexity of wave infused designs and a bright raw bar.

I was able to sample some of Jack Dusty's food and loved every bite of it. As simple and fresh as it is each bite was full of complex flavor. My most favorite would have to be the Shrimp Ceviche topped with a plantain chip. It may sound a bit weird, but I find that the fresh and tangy ceviche went well with the mellow sweetness and crunch of the plantain chip. The tuna drizzled in ponzu sauce was also extremely fresh and was not overpowered by the sauce.

What is a fresh raw bar without fresh raw oysters? I had a couple of oysters while I was there and must say they are superb. So fresh and juicy! Very impressed with the food here at Jack Dusty.

I had a pretty good start here at the Jack Dusty event. Met some new people and even took pictures with their model Mermans. Loved the events and prizes that Yelp and the Ritz had put together plus the fun DJ. Another thing I loved about Jack Dusty was the amazing view and patio they had created. I felt like every seat focused on you and the water. Great view and good ambient.

BE PREPARED...

So I would absolutely love to end my night as a good one but because of one incident I couldn't forget, made me incredibly upset that night. I loved the event and had no problem with it and thought everyone did a great job but I did have an issue with a staff member. I never like to complain and try my best to be reasonable but even after a couple weeks later I still can't believe what happened to me that night. Let me repeat myself that I had a blast at the event. There was good food, good people, and fun entertainment up until the incident happened.

So here is it, I usually bring one of my best friend around as my plus one which is perfectly fine. I was enjoying the night as is and because it was a pretty poppin' event I respected the staff and know how nerve wrecking it is to host such an event. My friend and I, after chatting for awhile decided it's time to try some of their specialty drinks, which I was pretty excited about because I kept seeing everyone holding a delicious looking glass. We tried the bar once but noticed that it was way too busy so we came back at a later time. We both stood at the bar for about 10 minutes waiting for the bartender to notice us which is fine because we understood that he must have been busy. After awhile I decided to leave my friend and walk to another end of the bar to another bartender but because he was bar back he was busy making drinks for the other bartenders. I respected that and waited for him to finish up and give me attention, he knew I was waiting since I asked him what drink he was making while I stood there watching him. After about 10-15 minutes later I asked my friend how it was on her side of the bar and she told me the bartender (that we were first waiting for) said the bar back was going to make our drinks so I happily stood next to her waiting. After about 15 minutes I asked the same bartender if our drink was coming and he rudely said "Events over".

This is where the tipping point comes in. I am very patient, but there is an limit to how much disrespect a person can get. I was shocked at his attitude and how rude he was when he told us that the event was over. We had clearly stood there for 30-45 minutes waiting for him to make our drinks and clearly watched him make other people's drinks that came after us. I even watched him play around while girls stuffed money down his shirt. I don't care about those kind of things, but for the fact that he acknowledged us and told us our drinks were coming and 20 minutes later say the "event was over" was what drove me nuts. I was at least expecting an apology or even putting out the effort to make us the drinks we patiently waited for.

Of course we both walked back to our other friends in a very angry and upset manner. We were both left speechless. I as a waitress understands that was certainly not the way to handle that situation and my friend who used to be a bartender was also very upset about how he rudely left us hanging.

Because of this one negative incident it destroyed our night. We both tried to leave the restaurant but were asked how our experience was. After some hesitation we told her about what had happened and I understand she tried to ease our anger by offering us a glass of wine. It was of no interest to me so I had to decline but after a few persuasive sentences from the young lady we stayed. It was because she offered to bring us the specialty drinks we were waiting for, so while we were waiting we sat out on the patio. I really think it was an amazing patio but because of how upset and irritated we both were we could not enjoy it to the fullest. After a few minutes we were told that the bartenders were getting interviewed and could not make our drinks. So he prepared us some wines, we took it just because we were already frustrated with the situation. We finished it and walked away, which was for the best because our frustration was not fixed and we needed to get away from the restaurant.

So after all this I still think this bartender which I won't release the name was what ruined my night here at Jack Dusty. I think the event was good, food and service was great except for that incident. Some of the waiters were funny and also came around to our table just to drop some food off and make sure we're doing good. I really appreciate all the work the others have done and feel sad that because of an bad incident with a particular bartender it really hinder my thoughts about this place.

__________________________________________________________

Sarasota Weekend

So with all that out of the way I wanted to share you all the foodie stuff I did while staying in Sarasota for that weekend. I was really glad that I planned out more than just the Yelp event for that weekend because then my whole weekend would consist of rethinking about that bad incident.

After the Yelp Jack Dusty event we were left hungry and upset. So what's the next best thing to cure unhappiness? Comfort food! We checked out a branch of Yummy House in Sarasota which was absolutely packed (a good thing). We ordered some take out to bring back to our hotel room. It wasn't as good and it was a shame that they forgot to poke holes into the box because our food got soggy. It's alright though~

Next stop! The Coffee Loft. I saw this while driving back to the hotel room the night before and suggest we all check it out before we start our day the next morning. I'm so glad I did because I love this place!! I love small coffee shops because they make you feel comfortable and they also make the coolest drinks. We ordered three different drinks but I'm not too sure what all the three names are but with my little hints I'm sure you'll figure it out.

First one is the All Nighter which consist of lots of espresso shots, this was for my friend since she's big coffee person. The drink I got had white chocolate and raspberry which was really delicious! The last drink I think was called something Sunset. Not too sure but I loved all the unique drinks made here.

I also have to mention I love the loft style of this coffee shop. There was a cool circle staircase that takes you up to the second floor which is lit up with tons of windows. LOVE! There's plenty of games for break time and seats and lounge chairs to chill out at. Don't forget the mini stage for some cool local performances.

After that we checked out St. Armand Square and the beach. Here's random photos I have from that adventure.

Chilling at ScoopDaddy's Ice Cream Parlor. It's such a cute place full of classic comic strips, Elvis, Madonna posters and so on.

Stopped by a Hot Sauce store and wandered around for a bit. Some very funny hot sauce names and tons of samples. I loved the pickled garlic!! Here's an example of some cool sauce designs.

Other finds

We also grabbed some crawfish at Monk's Steam bar while watching Sunday Football. It wasn't amazing but it was helping us fight the munchies while waiting for Munchies 4:20 open!

This should end my super long post :D!!

Carmel Cafe & Wine Bar - Clearwater

2013-02-01T00:11:00.000-05:00

So much food!

My first impression of Carmel Cafe & Wine Bar will be presented to you in 3.. 2.. 1..

I decided to check out Carmel as a last minute dinner option with a couple of friends and would have to say I had a pretty good experience. The food was good, service was good and the vibe was just right. I read about the iPad menus and was pretty excited to try them out.

I would love to see more restaurants use this type of ordering systems just because we are now in a very fast pace technology world. I love that I can browse the menu and look at all the pictures and description at my fingertips. You can also decide when to send in your order to the kitchen or bar without having to chase down your waitress or waiter. One bad thing is that over ordering is easily done with the usage of the iPad menus and I must say that's what happened to us.

During the time we went in it was apparently Happy Hour so selected appetizers, flatbreads and drinks were $5 each (5-7). From what I remembered we ordered the Calamari Friter (which was my least favorite), Tomato Margherita flatbread, Mezze Platter (which consisted of Edamame hummus, Roasted red pepper spread and goat cheese), Shrimp Ceviche, Braised Short Ribs, French fries and a few more flatbreads and other different drinks.

I really liked the food here and it all comes out of the kitchen pretty fast. The service was excellent too, my glass was never left empty. There were dishes I enjoyed more than the other but I would have to say the Calamari Friters was my least favorite. I actually dislike it a lot, it wasn't what I expected but I guess it's good to try them while they were on the Happy Hour menu. The batter was too thick and the squid was just too chewy.

My favorite would have to be the Roasted Red Pepper spread, french fries and also the Braised Short Ribs which went great with the polenta served with it. The dishes off the regular menu was actually pretty pricey for the amount of food you get but I guess you would have to expect that at such a nice place. The Shrimp Ceviche was pretty good too and I loved the pairing of rice crackers.

Yum, Yum, Yum. I am pretty happy with the outcome of Carmel Cafe. There are other dishes off the regular menu that I would like to try like the lamb lolipop and some of the side dishes.

Carmel Cafe & Wine Bar - Clearwater

2548 Mcmullen Booth Rd
Clearwater, FL 33761

(727) 724-4228

http://www.carmelcafe.com

Persia House of Kababs - Tampa

2013-01-31T23:25:00.000-05:00

Here's another thanks to Groupon for always introducing new restaurants to me. I have always drove past Persia House of kababs (Kebabs) whenever I'm in the plaza but never thought of stepping a foot in there. Shamefully there's no reason why I shouldn't have visited this place earlier but I did it, I enjoyed an Persian dinner tonight with one of my good friend.

This restaurant looks like it combined two places into one, there's plenty of tables and booths to fit a bunch of groups and there's also a tiny section of the store dedicated to shelved and refrigerated goods. The restaurant appears clean and also brings in an comfortable eating environment.

I had a really nice young gentlemen waiter that helped assisted me in choosing the right dinner for my friend and I. We started out with the Combination platter as an appetizer which consisted of hummus, an unknown spread, stuffed grape leaves and Persian flatbread.

For the entree we decided to go for the Shish Kebab (medium). I found the amount is good for a single person or to share with another as well as an appetizer. I enjoyed the beef very much as it was pretty juicy and had plenty of flavor. I loved the rice that soaked bits of juice from the kebab.

After dinner we were provided Persian tea which was pretty good. It was a unique Persian black tea, I believe. He also provided it in a nice clear cup as well as a container full of sugar cubes.

I am very pleased about the experience I had here and Persia House of Kababs. Even though this restaurant isn't super fancy I think the food is good and the service is reasonable. There's also a buffet that is provided and belly dancing, so the entertainment and food is endless.

Persia House of Kababs

1441 E Fletcher Ave
Ste 123
Tampa, FL 33612

(813) 977-6018

Sate Southeast Asian Grill - Tampa

2013-01-31T22:59:00.000-05:00

My apologies to my readers, I know it's been way too long and I haven't updated so here I am giving you some of the latest foodie adventures I've been on. I had recently moved back home so I have a bit more change ($) and time to adventure out in the foodie world again. I'll start with this new restaurant called Sate Southeast Asian Grill near my university (USF). I saw that this was under the new businesses that opened section under Yelp and decided to give it a try.

I wasn't expecting it to be an Chipotle style Asian fusion set up but I think it's pretty neat. I've had sushi down in St. Pete (Rollbotto Sushi) Chipotle style and loved the idea so I am easily amused when similar restaurants like this pop up.

Let's talk about the interior first, it's clean and there's plenty of seats which is always a plus! You first walk in through the door and is guided straight to the display of food. You're able to see visibly see all the sides and you're able to pick according to your preference. I like this because it helps me see which is fresh and what is not. This place brings in a very Asian (Chinese) restaurant feel but still brings a modern twist with Americanized tables and chairs.

There are many base dish choices from rice bowls, noodles, banh mi and salads. I ended up with the noodle bowl with chicken skewers covered in peanut sauce. The young gentlemen that was helping us was super adorable because he was working so hard to sell us each side. I let him pick out the combination of sides for me since I trusted his opinion. There were different sides from pickled carrots and radish to kimchi bean sprouts and so on.

I also tried their spring rolls and soup but to be honest I wasn't a big fan of it. Stick with the main entree and I believe you'll be satisfied. They also offer discounts for USF students which is another plus!

Sate Southeast Asian Grill

2716 E Fowler Ave
Tampa, FL 33612

(813) 977-8880

http://southeastasiangrill.com/index.html

Cooking up a storm - Lots of firsts

2012-12-05T22:09:00.001-05:00

I've been cooking a lot recently. I mean, I'm actually cooking a different meal per day which is pretty crazy for me! I've been wanting some pasta for awhile so I decided to cook up pasta for myself. It was my first time using whole wheat spaghetti and also the first time I made pasta since I've moved out. There wasn't much to it, came out mighty good.

The whole wheat spaghetti is a bit tougher than the normal ones, but with a tasty sauce it isn't too noticeable. I used ground beef for my choice of protein and added some zucchini for some extra vegetables.

This meal was also great for a few leftovers! Yum!

I also tried making a stuffed chicken dish for the first time. I really like it, I used sun dried tomatoes and pesto on top of the chicken to add extra flavor. I'm eating pretty good lately :)!

Let's talk, Shirataki.

2012-12-03T11:34:00.000-05:00

I have been lately been on a "eat healthy" mode and one of my latest addiction is Shirataki noodles. I didn't know much about it until this year and I really wished I knew about it earlier. Funny thing is that I've grown up seeing these packages of translucent noodles, but I never got to try them because my mom never used it to cook. Of course, she knew all about the noodles but never shared to me about how amazing they are if you're on a low carb, low calorie diet.

Shirataki is a Japanese noodles made of Konjac yam. It contains largely of water and glucomannan, a water soluble dietary fiber. So pretty much super low calories and carbohydrates! I always describe them as empty fillers that keeps you full. These things can be used just like any regular noodles and immediately take up any flavor.

There are many types of Shirataki noodles.

The tofu shirataki which looks the most similar to pasta is amazing cooked with any type of sauces. The tofu and shirataki combination gives you a much smoother and softer texture compared to the pure shirataki noodles. I recommend using this like you would in a pasta dish. They also come in different sizes from spaghetti, fettuccine and angel hair! I have to add that the tofu gives it a bit more calories compared to the plain ones but not by much.

Now on to the most basic of basic. The regular Shirataki noodles which pretty much consist of Konjac and water. I'm serious! I find these noodles great in soups and stir fry with vegetables and protein. They are great as a filler to keep you full and also make a meal look like a complete meal.

Next step up from the plain shirataki noodles are the ones with bits of seaweed added to them. I tried these a few weeks ago and couldn't tell the differences from the regular ones, but I'm A OK with them. I like to use them when I use a soy sauce based stir fry. It gives a rich color which makes the meal even better.

Here's my Peanut Shirataki noodles. I didn't have any peanut butter so I ended up using soy butter which is a good alternative to peanut butter. I'm still a big peanut butter fan though! There's also some veggies and chicken added to give it some nutrients since the noodles itself has none. I must say that was one amazing meal. I loved every bite!

There's also another alternative if you're not into the Shirataki noodles (which I can't see why not it's an almost perfect ZERO noodle) but there are also kelp noodles.

I decided to give this a try and I must say I like it but not as much as my shirataki noodles. Since these noodles are made of the innards of seaweeds, it gives a much greater crunch or bite to them. I find them a little harder to bite through but it's still pretty tasty when cooked with a great sauce or stir fry. I find that putting them in hot water and cooking for longer in your sauce makes it much tastier. It's a little tougher to cook with compared to the shirataki noodles but they both are great as alternatives.

So here concludes my post. I'm a big fan of Shirataki noodles and really recommend it to others that are looking for a noodle alternative with very low calories and carbs. I eat it mostly everyday and you can use it in almost every way a regular noodle or pasta is used. It took me a few tries to perfect a good technique to cook it but I managed and absolute love it!

Outback Steakhouse - Yelp Event

2012-11-16T15:35:00.000-05:00

So it's been a year since I've been an "Elite" Yelper and I've greatly appreciated all that it has given me. Yelp has it's game on and it's always on top of things! I often use it to search for places to eat at and also find it super helpful reading reviews before I go adventure off.

A couple of months ago I attended an event at Outback Steakhouse releasing their new "bar" friendly menu. Here's my take on it :)

They featured 4 different drinks: Cucumber margarita, Sangria, The Forbidden Fruit Tini, and their Wild Tea.

All were complex, delicious and sweet. I find it to be too sweet but easy to drink (a little too easy!). My personal favorite would be the Cucumber Margarita. It is quite refreshing and not overly sweet.

I have provided a description of the food in the picture so feel free to click away to read up on the food!

Garlic Pepper Shrimp: They have an amazing kick from the spices and pepper used. I possibly think these were my least favorite of the night. They were tiny battered shrimp and were not as "juicy" or flavorful as I wished it to be. The batter is a bit on the dry side and could use a nice sauce to be dipped in. I actually enjoy it dipped in the creole sauce prepared for the chicken bites (not pictured).

On the other hand the classic Chicken bites were large chunks of real chicken that's breaded. It had a perfect layer of breading as it wasn't too thick and it had great seasoning.

It reminded me of an upgraded version of popcorn chicken. Which is a plus!

Diablo: I adored the amazing presentation of this dish. It's easy to grab and pop in your mouth but still requires some maneuver to carefully not let any of that rich and creamy pepper steak sauce go to waste. The sirloin was tender and was on the dry side, but the sauce helped moisten it up. I wasn't a big fan of the crostini that was used for the bedding of the sirloin because it either was not as crispy or is already soggy from the sauce. I enjoyed this and would love try it another time.

Wellington: I loved this concept of using a delicate pastry filled with mushrooms and sauteed onions topped with a skewered filet. This dish was meant to be eaten all together, I found out that eating it separate, the filling and sauce was too salty while the filet was too bland. I absolutely loved the skewered meat because it was really tender and super juicy.

This is one of my top favorite from that night.

You can't go wrong with classic Sliders! Sadly it was so simple and classic that I can't remember much about it. I would have to say I didn't hate nor love it I absolutely can't remember!

The last but possible one of the most delicious sample I ate that night. Who knew kettle chips can go so well served nacho style. The crispy chips had a great contrast with the cheddar cheese sauced and the pulled short ribs.

LASTLY, here comes desserts!

I really, really wanted to love these amazing and fancy cake pops but I just couldn't. I felt like it was a pretty last moment pull to wrap the night up with sweets. Overly TOO sweet and that could be the only reason it just didn't work. I love how easy these things are to eat and also their display but it was just way too sweet. There were a few flavors from lemon bites, cheesecake, carrot cake, peanut butter and so on and I admit they look amazing and after scraping off the icing it tasted pretty good. My favorite would be the peanut butter, and least favorite was the cheesecake (it was like a cream cheese ball).

I would have to thank Yelp for such a great event and also the President of Outback Steakhouse! What a super nice guy :). Overall I think it's an amazing bar menu made for drinking and eating. I did find certain dishes from the menu to be on the saltier side but I also see that with a drink while munching, it went perfectly together. Outback does not hold off on flavor and they use whatever it takes to get things heated and kickin'!

Yum it was a good night! Thanks Outback Citrus for holding us crazy yelpers and feeding us good food :D.

Wasabi - Sushi Conveyor Belt

2012-10-27T18:35:00.000-04:00

I know it's been ages since I've last updated this blog but I'm slowly getting back into the groove! I apologize to all my readers. I've been busy moving and also cooking 90% of my meals now since I've been on my own! It's a little difficult but I'm getting through :)

Anyways, HERE I present you the first Sushi Conveyor Belt in Florida, or at least the only one I know of. Wasabi. I've been to the ones outside of the state and loved the idea, but sadly Florida is a little behind with the new concept of restaurants but I'm glad it's finally here!

It's located inside of Florida mall in Orlando so it may be a bit of a drive but if you're in the area this place is a must TRY. It's located near the food court, you'll won't miss it due to the fascinating trail of sushi.

The price range is around $2-5 for a dish (each color represent a $), it does add up so be super careful! They have all sorts of sushi from cooked, raw, and even sashim (Kitchen food is also available). Even though the purpose of this conveyor belt is to get you in and out it gets pretty packed. There are tables and also a bar area to sit. I had to wait for a few minutes until a table cleared out on a Sunday.

If I had to rate the food here I would probably rate it 3.5 out of 5. The concept of the conveyor is pretty darn awesome but the quality of the food isn't as great as a Japanese/Sushi restaurant, but it is pretty good compared to prepacked sushi. The price can become a little pricey especially compared to the prices I had at other conveyor sushi restaurants, but you have to keep in mind it's located in a mall.

I would REALLY recommend Wasabi to others because it's such a fun way to eat sushi. It's fast and easy to eat without too much of a hassle of going to a "real" traditional restaurant. You grab what you see on the belt and enjoy your meal. I would love to go back but since it's too far I'll save it for the next time I'm in Orlando.

Wasabi is a must visit :D It's a modern twist to a all time favorite. The restaurant open and located near the food court and Starbucks. You can feel the exciting new concept just by watching the sushi past you one by one via conveyor belt. Amazing place, the conveyor belt sushi isn't new but it's new to Florida. Enjoy!

Wasabi Sushi

8001 South Orange Blossom Trail
Orlando, FL 32809
(407) 859-3940

http://www.wasabisushi.com/
FB:
https://www.facebook.com/WasabiiFlMall

Eggstyle - Oldsmar

2012-08-26T22:34:00.000-04:00

Ready for some breakfast grub with a healthy flare? Check out Eggstyle in Oldsmar. I love the name and also the atmosphere here at Eggstyle. It's a fresh twist to your chain breakfast restaurants with a brighter environment and amazing waitresses.

The colorful menu available doesn't just serve up eggs but all sorts of food from sandwiches, pancakes, toast, crepes, smoothies and so much more. It's like a breakfast heaven!

I started off with a smoothie full of berries and yogurt. I was a big fan of this smoothie because it was not overly sweet and is made to serve. I did have a few large chunks of frozen fruits in my smoothie but I didn't mind too much.

Eggstyle serves up a big heaping amount of food with a big taste for a cheap price. Its actually cheaper than your breakfast chains near by. I was excited to eat and quickly order up some yummy food.

Tons of meat, potatoes and eggs. What else do you need? Oh and some cinnamon apple for a sweet ending. The food was all perfectly cooked and the potatoes were crispy and soft inside. This was a meal made to fill up any stomach.

My friend also got their blueberry crepes, which I wasn't a big fan of but it did taste pretty good. It was not super sweet and the fresh blueberries gave it a good kick.

I thought the crepes were really too thick and I know the waitress told us that it was thick to keep the blueberries intact but it was nothing like a crepe to me. More doughy and not as delicate and thin as a real crepe.

Good try though!

I personally would come here again for more breakfast food. I am not a big breakfast person but I do enjoy it once in awhile. I am a big fan of the juice bar and love the fresh and decorative meals Eggstyle serves.

Eggstyle - Oldsmar

3980 Tampa Rd
Oldsmar, FL 34677

(813) 855-3447
http://www.eggstyleusa.com/

First Impression - Shirataki Rice

2012-08-07T18:18:00.000-04:00

Since I've been trying my best to eat healthy I decided to try different things for the low to no carb effect. I saw this at Nature's Food Patch in Clearwater and grabbed a package to try later at home. The instruction was simple enough and it looked like it might work since I love rice enough to die than to give it up.

I went from fluffy white rice to eating grainy brown rice. I've been on brown rice since this year and learned to enjoy it but now I'm trying to take another step down to a no carb rice alternative. Shirataki rice is pretty different. When I say different it's like a whole another planet. They are jelly like and translucent. Pretty interesting in looks as well as texture. To me when I see shirataki it reminds me of the Japanese noodles I often see at the Asian market and with a little bit of googling I found out that it's basically the same thing. It's a type of yam which is low in calories and carbs. Hmmm...

This shirataki rice came with super easy instructions, all you need to do was drain, rinse, blanch, dry and enjoy. It really does take only a few minutes to get this rice ready compared to the 30 mins to 1 hr for regular rice/grains.

A big plus!

My step by step pictorial :D

Rinse in cool water

Blanch in boiling water for about one minute

Towel dry

ENJOY!

It looks like rice... but..

I really wanted to love this and I tried eating it plain and then added seasoning to it but in the end I had to waste half of the bowl. I love the concept and I really wanted myself to love it but I ended up feeling sick after a few bites. It's tasteless so it goes well with any dish you're eating it with but the texture was what got me. It reminded me of tapioca and I would always expect it to pop in my mouth when I chew it.

It has a jelly like feel to it and in my head I imagine myself eating something similar to boba. I would have to experiment with this again or maybe with the Shirataki noodles but my first impression of the Shirataki Rice was a disappointment or I'm just picky?

Apparently there are two types of Shirataki Noodles/Rice. The first one has a zero net carb while the other one is a tofu based which has a shorter life span and also some carbs. I somewhat want to try the tofu based to see how well I like it since I am more of a fan of tofu over this magical yam with zero net carbs!

I also found out that it seems to be easier to flavor and work with the noodles since they soak in so much flavor. I would want to try the noodles soon!

M.I.A update

2012-07-31T20:39:00.000-04:00

A quick update of why I've been away from the eating scenery. It's a true sad yet happy moment I am living as I am gradually planning to move to live on my "own" in a month. I've been saving and working and doing nothing more than that plus trying my best to eat healthy, most of the time at home.

I apologize for not bringing my viewers some good eating moments but I will return once I am settle in my place. I have to admit it's been somewhat hard trying to eat as healthy as I can when I am out so I've opted most of the time to just eat at home. I am on a mission to find really good healthy places soon so look forward to that!

Thank you!

Yogurtland ft. Sanrio

2012-07-15T18:57:00.001-04:00

This year is actually my first year out for the Sanrio event at Yogurtland. I remember seeing pictures last year but sadly was not able to get any. I'm a huge frozen yogurt fan and in fact I once had a part time job in the past at a yogurt parlor. I must say I ate frozen yogurt nonstop. It probably wasn't the healthiest diet I had but it wasn't the worse.. over ice cream of course.

After a day of testing at school I decided to give Yogurtland a visit. It was a rainy and cold day but I really wanted some to cheer me up from the depressing endless projects and finals. I love yogurt parlors with a large variety of flavors and are also self-serve. If you haven't been to Yogurtland yet I suggest you to try it out! It's a clean yet cheerful place.

All Yogurtland locations at the moment should be serving their yogurt in the Sanrio cups with character spoons. It's so adorable I decided to keep mine. I love their hefty spoons and how environmental friendly Yogurtland is. I ended up with their featured Strawberry Lemonade Sorbet which happened to be way to tangy for me but was super refreshing, the Salted Caramel Pecan which was so freaking good and my favorite Taro. I sprinkled on some random toppings and was off on my drive home.

I just happened to have a few located near me but I remember thinking to myself that I wish I had one near me when I first saw their Sanrio event. I'm really impressed how fast they moved into Florida. I suggest you grab yourself some Sanrio goodies, even though it's just an event it's cute to play along.

http://www.yogurt-land.com/

Spoon (Character) number two!

Fitlife Foods - Clearwater

2012-07-15T18:33:00.000-04:00

I finally decided to try out Fitlife Foods across from where I worked. I've been meaning to try this place out but was very hesitant because it's not a typical restaurant. Fitlife Foods serves up prepackaged fresh healthy food for you. It's great for people always on the go or someone just wanting the right portion of healthy food. I walked into the store thinking I knew what to expect, but I was taken back a little. The store is filled with refrigerators loaded with packaged foods and also tables and a microwave station. It is a very bright and cheerful environment that makes you feel good to be in. The employee there was super nice and helped me through my process of picking out my food and I ended up with a full day's meal worth.

The meals are packaged in either (O) one size, (S) small, (M) medium, and (L) large. I went for mostly medium and one size meals. I got the Florida Frittata, Tampa Bay BBQ Beef and Mac n' Cheese, Ab Tight and Kickin Udon.

All the foods are freshly packaged and not frozen so there are expiration dates to look at on all packaged meals. I loved this idea because it secures the freshness idea into your head and also you can plan out which meal to each on which day so no food will go to waste.

I'll start with the breakfast item the Florida Frittata which I saw in reviews had good ratings. I am usually not a breakfast person but this was A-OK. I found that it was a bit too bland for my taste but a dash of salt fixed it. There is definitely a healthy taste to this meal. The cut of any butter and cheese with the taste of roasted vegetables is like a healthy sensation exploding in my mouth. I normally am all up for eating healthy but honestly I found this way too healthy for my taste or just too bland.

Whats lovely about the prepackaged meals is that each containers will be labeled with the nutrients and heating instructions. I think this is perfect because it is always a estimate when you cook and sometimes you give up trying to calculate how much calories and carbs a meal have while cooking.

I gave the Tampa Bay BBQ Beef and Mac n' Cheese a try. It is one of the more popular dish which I just had to try. It was actually the first meal I tried from Fitlife foods. I got a medium container which was a pretty good amount of food. My thoughts on the taste.. it was still a little bland to me but I did eat the whole thing. The cut of butter from the mac n' cheese did not cut the richness of the dish entirely. It's a little sweeter and has a more raw taste than regular mac n' cheese. The BBQ beef was kind of a disappointment but it wasn't too bad. It is nothing compared to good old BBQ but is what you would call a healthy dosage of BBQ beef. The meat was actually to me, a bit on the dry side and the fact that it's not drowning in sauce could be the reason. I wasn't a fan of this dish.

For a snack I decided to go for their Kickin' Udon salad instead of all the sweet selections. I did also find that the pickled carrots were on the sweeter side for me. I was expecting a salty snack but like before it seems that all the food here is on the bland side. It was a great concept to have an udon salad but I didn't enjoy this meal at all. It is one of the meal that I ended up not finishing.

I also tried their Ab Tight meal which consisted of tender beef over roasted potatoes and fresh asparagus. The meal was overall too dry and the asparagus was so tough to eat that I gave up. It was a disappointment but I think as my last meal from Fitlife Foods I decided that I probably would not buy food from there often.

The overall range in prices are around 8-10$ per meal which is somewhat on the normal to the high side to me. I love the concept and love that if I was to ever be in need for healthy food on the go this would be the place that comes to mind. I am not in love with the food but I can see the effort put into this food to make it as healthy as possible and still be tasteful.Another plus is that this is a local restaurant located in Tampa and Clearwater.

Fitlifes Food - Clearwater

2454 McMullen Booth Road, #305
Clearwater, FL 34695

727-408-5146
http://www.eatfitlifefoods.com/

Sweet Tomatoes Express - Clearwater

2012-06-24T15:20:00.000-04:00

Everyone in the area should be well familiar to Sweet Tomatoes aka the salad buffet. I love this place as it serves up endless salads, soups and also bakery. It's one of my favorite place to go when I need a greenery detox.

Just recently a Sweet Tomatoes Express opened up about 5 minutes away compared to the Sweet Tomatoes buffet which is about 15-20 minutes away.

I was lucky enough to get a complementary combo meal before it opened and was able to try it out for the first time last week. I was a bit curious as what the express meant and had in mind that it would be somewhat like a Chipotle or Subway style of "express" food and I was completely right.

There are a few signature salads to choose from or even 'a build your own salad'. There are premium meat toppings that cost a few dollars mores and combo choices from their soups, mac n cheese or baked potato. I opted for their Caesar Asiago Salad, a soup and bread.

I really enjoyed my meal and for the fact that it was free it tasted even more amazing! The Caesar Asiago salad was a bit plain with just greens, cheese and croutons; it would go great with chicken but sadly I didn't want to fork the 2 bucks for that. The soup I got was loaded with meatballs, tomatoes and other veggies and herbs but I can't seem to remember the name. I just know it was really good but for 8oz of soup I was really sad when I finished it so fast. The bread which comes with the meal was somewhat cheesy and chewy. It had a nice flavor but it was a little tough to eat alone. I used it to dip it into my soup and it turned out to be an amazing combo!

So in conclusion I love this place. I was a big fan of Sweet Tomatoes but could only go once in awhile as it tends to be a bit pricey for me (a college student) to be spending that much on salads. I'm not too sure if I'll go to this new Sweet Tomato Express often as it as pricey as going to the buffet but with less food. The whole meal I just had without a drink was about $8-9 already but it's a good healthy option if you're watching what you eat.

I would prefer to make my own salads as it's much cheaper and I have more options. Other than that I really do like this Sweet Tomatoes Express and if you have the money I suggest this place as it has everything from the Sweet Tomatoes buffet ready for you in a "to go" package.

Sweet Tomatoes Express - Clearwater

1840 Gulf To Bay
Clearwater, FL 33765
727-796-0404
www.souplantationexpress.com/

Restaurant and Food Show - Tampa

2012-06-18T20:42:00.001-04:00

This year I attended the first annual Tampa Bay 2012 Restaurant & Food Show. It was open for two days and I decided to take a visit on Father's day this past Sunday. I must say I was greatly disappointed. I wasn't sure if I came late, that it was Father's day or because it's their first annual but there was not "250" restaurants and venders that they boasted about.

I paid $5 for parking and $10 to get in and once you're in you still have to pay for your own food. The "samples" were not enough to cover the admission fee or even parking. There were a few food trucks that attended the show and inside there were tables and booths set out for the venders. Many are local catering companies and also plenty of commercial sales.

We first started out with some Chicken tacos with a choice of 12 different salsa. I picked the drunken salsa which had beer inside and my friend Gabby went for their pineapple salsa. It was actually pretty good and the shells were airy and crispy. It was $2.50 per taco.

This Pulled Pork sandwich was probably the best thing and also the best priced dish at the show. I was able to get a fully loaded sandwich with chips for only $3. It was a deal that couldn't be passed up! The pulled pork was chunky and my sandwich was just filled with meat. It was tender and there was different sauces to add into your sandwich, I added a bit of chipotle and sweet bbq.

I was able to try a few different samples from different venders from rum cakes, lentil salads, cookies, and so on but was at a halt when I saw Red Velvet Brownies from Iced Bakery.

They came in a packaged of 4 pieces for $3. They were super moist and wasn't overly sweet. I absolutely loved them and was tempted to get everything displayed at the Iced Bakery's booth.

All their baked goods are simple yet complex in flavor and also very pleasing to the eyes.

After finishing up exploring the inside building we stepped out to look around before heading back home. Right before that my friend and I grabbed a bag full of kettle corn for $3. I decided to bring it home for my brother since he really wanted some for awhile. They were nice enough to fill it to the very top!

The last bite we had before heading out of the gates were these delicious kebobs. I once had it at a Creative Loafing event and decided to grab one for my friend and I, they were $5 each. It was a bit pricey, but they are just so darn delicious!

I would love to go back if there was really 250 restaurants and venders but if it was as dead as it was when I went I probably wouldn't go back again. It was a nice concept and I love going to foodie events but having to pay for parking and admission fee was just a turn off, especially when you are forced to pay for your own food and there wasn't enough places to get samples from.

Oh well, at least I was full when I left!

Fusion Bistro Sushi & Sake Bar - City Walk

2012-06-18T17:14:00.000-04:00

I had my eyes on this Sushi bar for awhile but I didn't know what to expect. It's a very tiny place that serves a somewhat "to-go" style sushi. You order up at a window and you can wait while watching a sushi chef prepare your food through a glass. I ordered the Spicy Tuna Salad which was not impressive at all.

Tiny pieces of tuna lies on a bed of seaweed salad topped with chopped avocado and smelt roe had a price tag of $8. The "Spicy" part of this spicy tuna was just a squirt of sriracha. I wouldn't ever order this again but I wouldn't say it was terrible. I wasn't able to peek at the other rolls but the menu wasn't overpriced but I would suggest going to a real Sushi restaurant if you want sushi.

Fusion Bistro Sushi & Sake Bar

6000 Universal Blvd
Orlando, FL 32819

(407) 903-7253

Fusion Sushi Bistro & Sake

Universal Studios Meal Deal - Orlando

2012-06-18T16:59:00.000-04:00

Have you guys ever tried a meal deal at an amusement park? Well while my cousin was visiting we decided to go to Universal Studios and opted for their meal deal (Adults: $20.99 for one park or $24.99 for both). It was a pretty good deal so all of us got it and my cousin's girlfriend got the meal deal souvenir cup ($8.99). With this meal deal we were able to enjoy as much food as we can from participating locations.

At Universal and Islands of Adventures there were 3 set up locations each for us to enjoy our food and drinks.

Universal Studios:

Mel’s Drive-In - Burgers, Chicken and Salads

Louie's Italian Restaurant - Pizza, Pasta, and Salads

International Food and Film Festival - Asian, Italian, and American Food

Islands of Adventures:

Circus McGurkus Café Stoo-pendous^™ - Fried Chicken, Spaghetti, Pizza, Chicken Caesar Salad, Burgers and Chicken Sandwiches

Comic Strip Cafe^® - Chinese, Italian, New England and American Food

The Burger Digs^® - Burgers, Chicken Sandwiches, and Chicken Fingers

The first place to hit up once we entered the park was Mel's Drive In. It was super hot and crowded but we managed to get our first batch of food using our meal deal passes. I was surprised how good the food was because I was afraid that using these meal deals they would feed us cheap food but that was not the case!

Mel's Drive-In served up burgers, chicken and salads which was great for everyone. The meal deal came with a choice of entree and dessert minus the drink but that was what the meal deal souvenir cup was for!

At Mel's I got the double bacon cheeseburger with fries and a chocolate cake. Of course there was just way too much food but I was super happy with so much food and kept in mind that I only had to eat twice to use up that meal deal, but of course who wouldn't take advantage of it!

After a couple of hours of waiting in line and going on rides I was able to hit up my favorite ride in the whole park! The Simpsons Ride has never disappointed me yet and I'm really glad my cousin and his girlfriend enjoyed it as much as I did. A few building down was the International Food and Film Festival so we stopped there for a bite. This time we shared a few plates of fruits and some Chinese orange chicken and fried rice, for dessert was a cup of jello.

The food I got here wasn't very yummy but I guess if you're hungry you wouldn't mind. I picked at the dish but the fruit plate was very refreshing on this very hot day.

The only way to survive that day was to find shade and hunt down every water mist area. Oh Florida!

We had some hot rain a few times during the day but the sun came shining through again. Super sticky but we still went on with the day.

The last restaurant to get food was Louie's Italian Restaurant. I got the Chicken Alfredo which came with bread stick but sadly I just couldn't eat it because it was all cream, no cheese or flavor. I went back for the Chicken Caesar Salad and happily finished my meal deal at Universal Studios.

I would totally recommend this meal deal especially if you're going to be there right when the doors open. If you're able to eat twice you would already get your money worth but any more than that just consider it free meals. The 3 restaurants that participates in this meal deal is just any normal restaurants in the park so you'll get the same food as someone else paying full price. If you're like me and you didn't like a dish don't feel bad and grab another!

Universal Studios Meal Deal - Orlando

1000 Universal Studios Plz
Orlando, FL 32819

(407) 363-8000

http://www.universalorlando.com

House Of Blues - Downtown Disney

2012-06-18T03:40:00.000-04:00

House of Blues is located in Downtown Disney right across from Disney Quest. This restaurant gave off a very Bar-B-Que like feel while serving much more interesting food than just burgers. With no plans of ever eating here we all just winged it and order all types of dishes off the menu. I got the Jambalaya while others ordered up the Buttermilk Fried Chicken, Ribs and Smoked BBQ Bacon Burger.

What really pulled us all in was realizing that Aaron Sanchez was the man that created the menu, which was said to be "bold and classy, yet contemporary". I must say he hit it all!

The menu was simple yet complex at the same time. The price range was around $10-30 per dish. All the food that came out was delicious and we all ate till there was not even a single crumb on the plates.

I absolutely loved my Jambalaya. It was so filling and there was more than enough for one person. It was perfectly seasoned and was not too thick nor too thin in consistency. The tomato based was not too tangy either and it was also filled with sausages and other yummy proteins!

House Of Blues

1490 E Buena Vista Dr
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830

(407) 934-2583

http://www.houseofblues.com/orlando

I also got a few more things to eat/drink while browsing around Downtown Disney, which is probably one of the most awesome place to go to. You don't have to pay for parking and you're free to roam around the streets of Downtown Disney and explore different restaurants, bars and stores.

I tried a Bailey Shake which was so darn good. It tasted like pure adult goodness in a cup and I savored each and every sip from that cup. It doesn't look like much but it probably was the most delicious blended drink I've ever had. It went down so smooth and it was rich but not too heavy or creamy. It was just perfect!!

I also got to try a pretzel dog from Wetzels Pretzels before heading back home. The hot dog was actually very impressive compared to other dogs. It was plump and and juicy! I'm not a hot dog fan but it was satisfying!

I also got myself a little souvenir for my new car!

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament - Orlando

2012-06-18T03:09:00.000-04:00

My cousin and his girlfriend came to visit me from Seattle and one of their hit list was the Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament in Orlando. We ordered the tickets online and off we went on our 1.5 hour drive. There are limited seats which could be a good and bad thing. The "normal" seats were perfect but if you had extra money to spend I would suggest upgrading your seats. I went for the normal seats and was placed probably around the 5th-7th row. Order your tickets in advance because it seems that seats are booked pretty fast.

If you get there early enough before seating you can get your pictures taken and also explore around the huge castle. There's a few bars to order drinks from and also a gift shop to visit. You'll be handed a color and table number once you get in and that will be the knight you'll be cheering on during dinner.

Medieval Times really does take out their time with each and every detail for this dinner show. Once seated you'll have to take a few minutes to take in the surrounding because I must say it is pretty darn amazing. The dinner show provides you a good amount of food and Pepsi is provided if you're wondering.

Be warned that you will have no utensils so feel free to beast it (use your hands)!

We first started off with their Garlic Bread which is similar to a flat bread and their Tomato Bisque which was one of my favorite dish from the dinner show. The tomato bisque was perfectly seasoned so no need to grab for the salt and pepper shakers. I enjoyed it by dipping my flat bread into the tangy bisque.

Every thing is served up warm and you can start chowing down anytime you want.

The amazing view of the show while enjoying my meal! As you can see my "normal" seat had a pretty good view and I was seated the second to last row up (Yellow team).

Medieval isn't my thing but I certainly did enjoy it. The food was pretty good and you also get good seats no matter what. There's humor and also tons of actions which is great for audience of all ages. You certainly do get into the show as you cheer on your specific colored knight. I also adored watching the King eat while we were served our meal too.

The next few items on the menu were roasted half chicken, herb-roasted potatoes and a spare rib. This was more than enough food and I had to get boxes for my left over. It doesn't just end there! We were also served coffee and a apple turnover pastry.

Would I recommend Medieval Times? YES! It's a great show to attend if you're visiting or haven't been to it yet. You can try to find discounts or deals for the tickets, but the food and show is actually worth the $$ you pay. It is a very interactive show as we all get riled up cheering for our knights.

Medieval Times Dinner & Tournament
4510 W Irlo Bronson Hwy
Kissimmee, FL 34746

(866) 731-9319

http://www.medievaltimes.com

Tasty Thai Cafe - Clearwater

2012-05-24T01:16:00.000-04:00

The name of this Thai restaurant doesn't lie at all. It sure is tasty! Tasty Thai Cafe replaced the old Quiznos that used to be there and it sure doesn't disappoint. Tasty Thai Cafe lies in a an almost perfect plaza; consisting of a gym, a few office like stores, a sushi restaurant, Chinese take out, Publix grocery store, a nail salon, a pet store, a pizza parlor, a dollar store and so much more.

Despite being a new restaurant it had some killer reviews on Yelp so I decided to make it tonight's dinner date with my friend Gabby. This little cafe is clean, bright and it also has a beautiful open kitchen. The waitresses are all super nice and it's a very warm and inviting place.

The food were all delicious and I'm very happy to be able to have such a place so close to my home. The price range were all very reasonable and perhaps even cheaper than the normal Thai restaurants near by.

We started off with the Tasty Thai Sampler which consisted of veggie eggrolls, spring rolls, shrimp wrapped in an wonton wrapper, fried wontons and crab rangoons.

All were really yummy, super hot and fresh. I did noticed that all the eggrolls had too many layers so it was a little tougher than normal eggrolls I've had, but I enjoyed them all. The crab rangoons had a hint of curry which was a nice surprise and also a great way to give these a kick. I also enjoyed the veggie eggrolls and the fried wontons.

Another one of my favorite was the Tom Kha soup which is a chicken and mushroom coconut soup with other unique herbs. It's so tarty and rich in flavors without the thickness or heaviness. It's really refreshing and Tasty Thai Cafe served it perfectly.

A must try!!

For entrees, Gabby ordered up some Chicken Pad Thai and I opted for the Chicken Penang Curry. I had a bite of the pad thai and thought it was pretty good. It wasn't too saucy and the noodles weren't overcooked. I enjoyed the pad thai!

I also loved my Penang curry which was loaded with zucchini, carrots, bell peppers and chicken. The ordering technique at Tasty Thai Cafe reminds me of how I would order at Mama Fu's. You pick your protein and then you can pick the type of dish you want.

You could also order brown rice instead of white but sadly it had a $2 price tag so I just stayed with the white rice. Either way the dish was very delicious! For all dishes you can pick your levels of spiciness and I stuck with Medium which was perfect for me. The curry was just perfect, it wasn't too salty and had the perfect consistency and flavor.

(note: I love the heart shaped rice!)

With no room for dessert I had throw the towel down. They do serve up the typical sticky rice with mangoes and fried bananas with ice cream. Overall I am very satisfied with my experience here at Tasty Thai Cafe and would definitely come back. It's reasonable priced and they serve up very tasty food.

Special thanks to Gabby for joining me tonight :)

Tasty Thai Cafe - Clearwater

1530 N Mcmullen Booth Rd Ste D4
Clearwater, FL 33759

(727) 600-8037

Business Cards

2012-05-18T03:38:00.002-04:00

I've always wanted my own business cards so here it is! My own personal business cards for my blog :D! I ordered some about 10 minutes ago on Zazzle and I'm super excited to get them in. I find handing out cards with my information would be so much easier than explaining and writing down my website/information.

Hopefully people will remember to check me out too!!

I'm really happy how much of an improvement this blogging life has been. I've upgraded the website so it's much more professional, I've learned more ways to take my photos, gone to more events and am working hard to satisfy my viewers. I hope you all continue to give me support and please do share! I love seeing more viewers :D.

Tumblr and Twitter

2012-05-15T01:37:00.003-04:00

Bored? Or just want to get more involved with Dena Loves Food?

Well, you're in luck! Follow me on twitter @DenaLovesFood

OR

Follow me on Tumblr for all my food interests and talks

http://denalovesfood.tumblr.com/

Thanks!

Green Organix - Clearwater

2012-05-10T23:00:00.000-04:00

Another thanks to Groupon for giving me a chance to try out another wonderful restaurant! I honestly love all the deals Groupon, Living Social and Creative Lofting provides because as a college kid, money doesn't come easy and being able to eat happily is just heaven!

Green Organix lies in the middle of downtown Clearwater along with many delicious places to eat at. This happens to be the first organic restaurant I've been to and I am certainly pleased. I opted to sit by the window because I love people watching and also admire how open and free this place is. This restaurant is full of comfort and a hint of refreshing air you'll love to escape to. For today's adventure I took one of my best friend Gabby out on a date. She started with out with some Sparking water with Blueberry and Pomegranate juice and I went for the Coconut water with pulp! Yum!

We ordered their BBQ Chicken Quesadillas (Monterey Jack Cheese, BBQ chicken and grilled onions pressed in a whole wheat tortilla and served with sour cream and scratch-made salsa) and their Portabella Burger (Stuffed with sauteed spinach, tomato, onion, and grilled and topped with Swiss cheese).

I actually enjoyed this BBQ chicken quesadilla very much. The BBQ sauce was pretty darn good, it wasn't too strong or overpowering. It's the perfect amount of tangy sweetness goodness with large chunks of chicken. The whole wheat tortilla was nicely pressed, crispy and delicious.

This was the star of the night. We opted for the Portabella Burger over their regular grass fed burger. Reason? Just because we wanted to try something new! I must say it probably wasn't my favorite but I enjoyed it. I'm a meat person so I would have wanted a slab of burger meat under that mushroom but I must say it's a very filling vegetarian option for a burger. Everything was super fresh and tasty but I did have a little problem with my buns being a little too toasted.

I love fries and this time we tried their sweet potato fries. Better luck next time maybe? The fries were either burnt or too soggy. I loved the flavor of them but it all ended up feeling like smush. How sad but, it's okay I finished my meal here at Green Organix and enjoyed my first organic meal!

After our dinner we walked down the road to a place called Cali Yogurt and I got some taro frozen yogurt with cheesecake bits. Yum! This place is clean and bright with a few flavors of yogurt. They also provide smoothie options and a great place to sit and chill.

Special thanks to my wonderful friend Gabby for always joining me on my foodie adventures! If you guys are ever interested in planning a foodie dinner feel free to contact me :D!

Green Organix Restaurant & Wine Bar

424 Cleveland St
Clearwater, FL 33755

(727) 462-5770

http://www.greenorganix.com/

Cali Yogurt
519 Cleveland St
Clearwater, FL 33755

(727) 442-2254

Cali Yogurt's Website

China Wok

2012-04-24T02:55:00.000-04:00

After driving around I ended up at China Wok ordering some food before going to class. I must say everything was average and it tasted pretty good. I enjoyed my meal in the middle of my school parking lot in my car with the windows rolled down, cool breeze blowing and music blasting. I should mention I'm still a college student so I must live like a student!

I'm not a Chinese take out food expect nor do I eat it often but I'm not disappointed by China Wok's food at all. I ordered up some sesame chicken with brown rice! I'm so happy more places are making brown rice available because I love eating it. It's a pain when I cook it at home because I'm the only one that eats it so we end up with two rice cookers making brown and white rice.

Since I don't often eat take out that often I find that the sesame chicken was a little too sweet for my taste but don't get me wrong, it tasted great. There's also a few pieces of broccoli buried in between the chicken, only negative... is that I wished a few more was added because I like to always add more greens into my meals, but that's just me!

I'm super happy that they offer brown rice so if you're at the tip of St. Petersburg and crave for some Chinese food, come check this place out! I haven't tried anything else on the menu but I would have to say they are pretty fast with their orders. The food is served fresh and hot. The location is also pretty clean and there's a lot available on their menu.

China Wok

5055 34th Street South
St. Petersburg, FL

(727) 867-7788