Dena Loves Food

1st Visit to St. Petersburg Farmers Market

2012-02-26T13:42:00.001-05:00

I took my first visit to St. Petersburg Saturday Farmers Market recently. I was so shocked that I've never been to one before. This place is just amazing! There was so many vendors and so many people I got a little lost a couple of times. You have everyone out here and even their cute dogs.

This market has tons of food vendors, art works, products, fresh food, and so much more. I must add there are tons of samples to try out. I didn't take as many pictures as I should, but here's a little preview of the market itself. I def want to go next time prepared!

Vendors all sit outside with their products on display for all the visitors to look at. They also provide many samples too.

Bread Artisans also had a spot set up with an amazing display. They had homemade pastries, pizza and bread available. I couldn't resist the delicious smell so I grabbed an Parmesan Chicken Danish and my friend got their Lemon Bar.

Superb! I would seriously find their bakery for their baked goods because this is not your typical bread. It's really soft in the inside and the chicken is still moist. The crust isn't tough but it has a very nice chew. This little danish has enough flavor to just eat alone without any sauce and I enjoyed it a lot. My friend loved their lemon bar, it wasn't too sweet nor too lemony. It may be a little messy to eat with all the powder sugar but she loved it!

I also got to sample some Habanero jam which has a really nice kick to it. I'm not too sure about eating more than a cracker of that stuff because it did get me a little heated. It tasted great though, as a small amount. I also got to try some infused honey and it was amazing! I especially liked the honey with Mexican almonds in them (they look like garlic at first) This one was one of my favorite samples I've had. It was served on top of whipped cream cheese and a cracker. Amazing flavor, it wasn't too sweet but it was sweet enough to satisfy my buds and the almond was soft yet crunchy. Samples everywhere!

Iced tea tasted amazing, I got the green tea with honey and ginseng and my friend grabbed herself a raspberry tea. Both tasted very refreshing It was lightly sweeten but not overly sweet.

More random pictures while walking around. By this time many places were selling out of food and products. The empanadas stand was very busy but they all looked so good. There were also a few food trucks spotted at the market.

This man here sells fresh rice cakes that pops out of this cool machine. I've only seen this in some Asian dramas as they make popped rice cake but have never come close to one in real life. It was a very fun show and check below for a quick clip of the machine doing its job!

Ethiopian food was also found at the market. They had meat and also vegetarian options. The beef that they served looked amazing!

Authentic Indian food was also served here at the market. Everything looked so tasty it was hard to decide what to eat.

I ended up getting some Thai steak curry with brown rice and a refreshing cucumber salad. It came in a very cool brown box and I just wanted to eat out of it! The curry is really flavorful and I loved how soft the brown rice was. It was fluffy just like white rice but instead it's brown. The curry sauce and rice tasted really good together. The cucumber salad wasn't my favorite as it tasted like cucumber and vinegar.

I finished off my day at the market with some popsicle and adventure off somewhere else. I am very satisfied and hope to go again soon, but this time prepared with a giant bag!

Check out the Rice Cake Poppin' machine!

Green Market Cafe- Oldsmar (Revisit)

2012-02-13T23:18:00.002-05:00

The first time I had food at the Green Market Cafe was when they just opened. I wasn't in love with it and never really cared much about their food. I took another visit recently because I was in the area and I must say they are poppin'! The place is super packed and the food they serve now is just delicious.

I grabbed the pick two meal deal. I got a soup and flat bread sandwich and I don't regret it. Turkey Club flat bread was just amazing! There was intense flavor and enough bacon to satisfy a beast. I loved it.

This time around the meal also comes with a cup of frozen yogurt. If that doesn't call you in I don't know what does. I didn't expect the frozen yogurt part because the last time I ate here I had to buy my frozen yogurt as an extra. I am impressed and enjoyed my revisit to the Green Market Cafe.

My old review on Green Market Cafe

Green Market Cafe

3150 Tampa Rd, Ste 1A
Oldsmar, FL 34677

(727) 787-5494

McDonalds Chicken McBites

2012-02-13T18:05:00.001-05:00

Something new! I must try!

I tried the new popcorn chicken from McDonalds and I like it. I love that it's driver and walker friendly. Easy to eat without the mess.

The packaging includes a slot for your sauce which is an amazing idea and it makes eating so much easier. Too bad it's not like Korea with the drink on the bottom of the cup and food bites on the top half of the cup.

I had to rush while eating so I didn't have enough time to dissect it. The regular size was more than enough for me and they do serve the cute snack size too!

I enjoy the bigger pieces because there's more chicken in it!

New Layout

2012-02-12T20:46:00.001-05:00

How do you guys like the new layout? There's still some spots that needs to be fixed, but I think it looks pretty nice now! No more domo style layout. This one is super clean and more organized.

I hope you like it :D

Support

2012-02-11T20:39:00.001-05:00

I really appreciate everyone that has supported me! Especially one's that let me know you're still here reading this blog.

Shance M. gave me a comment on my facebook and it made me really happy because I know there are still people reading my blog! I appreciate it and also no one should be afraid to come up to me :D I'm harmless I swear! and I love meeting everyone.

"I had these bunz too. I had the pork, shrimp and chili beef. I like the shrimp and the beef the best. I was standing behind you at the bunz truck. I would of said hi, I follow your blog but I was not 100% sure it was you. I love your blog. I went to seasons cafe the other day it was very good. It was your blog I seen it on. Thank you."

Thanks Shance and everyone :D!

Have a good night~

https://www.facebook.com/denalovesfood

Safety Harbor Food Truck Rally

2012-02-11T13:43:00.000-05:00

Woo~ I attended another Food Truck Rally and this one was right down the street from my house. It was super close so I had to check it out and I also got to bring my little dog around. It was a tiny rally but I got to try a food truck I wanted to try for awhile.

Stinky Bunz~

I've only known about their truck from the past rally that I wasn't able to attend, so when I saw they were going to be at today's food rally I had to try it! I was excited for their bun sandwiches because I've never been able to get my hands on any in the area. I've seen them everywhere in Cali and NY but not in FL. I'm glad I got to try some because they are good!

I tried their Chili Beef buns that came with kimchi fried rice and a little piece of mint! The buns were nice, soft, and moist and the meat (inards) were flavorful. It wasn't too salty or bland and it wasn't too spicy, they have Sriracha hot sauce if you're wanting a kick! They have different types of filling you can chose from and also toppings so read the menu well! I got the pickled radish on top which reminds me of the ones you would get on Vietnamese banh mi, sweet and tangy. I really enjoyed these little bun sandwiches. The truck also serves lettuce wraps and rice bowls.

I wasn't too crazy for the kimchi fried rice though. It wasn't amazing but it wasn't awful. It's nice that they serve the fried rice as part of the meal though. A very filling meal!

Safety Harbor is a really small town, but it's filled with tons of hidden treasures. I sat down to some acoustic music and was able to pick up some empanadas from Mr. Empanadas and also grabbed a popsicle from Whatever Pops!

It was super windy so I had to rush around because my poor doggy was shivering. Thanks Becca for helping me keep him warm :)

Camera Doctor

2012-02-09T20:51:00.001-05:00

My baby (dslr) is at the shop getting it's sensor cleaned because it's super dirty. I hope to get it back soon because I feel so weird without it!

Yogurbella - Tampa

2012-01-16T23:50:00.000-05:00

Had some really yummy frozen yogurt at Yogurbella. I tried their pistachio and original flavor. The original is super tart but it's really nice. The pistachio is creamy and a big sweeter. Both are delicious! It's a very clean yogurt parlor and also very bright.

Tebella Tea Company

2012-01-16T23:46:00.000-05:00

Here's another update!

Super super super nice people that work here! I wish I could live here honestly. All teas are delicious in it's own ways and today I was able to sample way too much. I haven't had anything I hate and I probably wouldn't. If you dislike something they are willing to make you another one without any trouble. Clean, simple and peaceful!
________________________________________________________

After today's lunch a group of us decided to check out Tebella Tea Company right across the street and I'm so glad we were able to. This is the type of tea house that I absolutely love. I'm a big fan of tea and would rather have it over coffee any day! They have so many variety of teas that I don't even know what is what. They also provide some of the most amazing treats ever!

I got to try their Carrot Cake tea and also a Banana Caramel filled macaroons and they were both just amazing. The carrot cake tea has a really strong yet subtle taste to it. It's amazing even without any sugar and it's pretty cheap for a cup. The macaroon was just bomb though! I've had macaroons before and you can't even compare them because they were just on another level. The shells had a nice crunch but was really moist and the innards were really smooth, the caramel filling was a nice surprised.

I would really suggest trying their teas and also their treats! You won't be disappointed!

Tebella Tea Company

227 E Davis Blvd
Tampa, FL 33606

(813) 254-1212

http://www.tebellatea.com/

Ruby Cafe - Tampa

2012-01-16T23:38:00.000-05:00

Today's visit was to Ruby Cafe in Tampa. I would have never known about this place if it wasn't for Groupon. I absolutely love Groupon, especially when it can give me good deals and also take me places that I've never been to.

I had a lunch date with my dinning buddy Rebecca. We both started off with their unlimited soup, salad and bread deal. We had two choices, a curry and chili soup. There was also two choices of salad, a house salad and also a caesar salad, oh and don't forget about the fresh bread! The soups were pretty good I liked the chili the best. The salads were fresh and tasted like any normal salad. I really love the bread though, it was super fresh and toasted. Great crunch but also a nice soft and chewy center.

We also ordered spanakopita which is pretty much like a spinach pie. It was nice and crispy on the outside and super moist and soft on the inside. I loved the flaky shells of these spanakopita. The innards are also filled with a lot of spinach.

We also ordered their chicken kabobs and I will have to say these are some super moist kabobs. There was not one piece that way not juicy. The charred-ness gave the chicken some flavor and it was also paired up with their yogurt dipping sauce. The entree also comes with onion, tomatoes, bell peppers and rice.

I had wonderful service here. The waitress was very friendly and it wasn't loud or any distractions going on. The food was very good and they are in such a nice and clean building. Thanks Rebecca for coming out with me :)! They also provide some sweets but we both were way too full to eat any.

Ruby Cafe

3308 W Kennedy Blvd
Tampa, FL 33609

(813) 348-2395

Here's a little video clip for you!

Instagram update 2~

2012-01-14T02:02:00.001-05:00

Instagram is a huge part of my life. It's just a habit to go to instagram to take some yummy photos to share with others. It's fast and fun!

White cake with blueberries in a mug

Steam pork bun (homemade)

Amazing Alesia pho~

Homemade cali rolls~

Ran out of big bowls so mom made me eat pho out of a metal bowl!

Zaru soba is so bomb when I'm starving!

galbi, spinach banchan, kimchi and bap (rice) for dinner? YAY!

Homemade Banana Bread

2012-01-03T23:12:00.000-05:00

I'm not a huge banana lover so I probably wouldn't be eating these, but I must say I love the recipe I used.

Here's the link!
http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,184,145186-230200,00.html

This isn't the first time I've used this recipe because the unique sour cream addition was what made me never forget it. All the recipes I've used without sour cream have been dry or just not soft, but after adding sour cream to the batter the bread comes out really soft and this recipe isn't super sweet. I also added some walnuts for a bit of texture and I'm really happy the bread turned out perfect. I did try it and it was super soft and moist. The banana flavor isn't too strong, and it's also not super sweet. It's perfect and what's more important is that my mom loves it!

Odd ingredients don't exactly faze me because I know they are there for a reason. Apple sauce is another one I had to get used to a few years ago. It makes your baked goods moist and it's also not too sweet. I also have used pudding mixes in cookies and so on. Take an adventure!

Happy Holidays 2011

2011-12-24T18:19:00.000-05:00

I wish you all a happy holidays and a safe new years! Enjoy the break with your family and friends while filling up your bellies!

Alésia Restaurant

2011-12-21T17:34:00.000-05:00

I absolutely love this place! I found out about this place when I was making a list of places to check out awhile back and I finally got to it. I was impressed by their yelp reviews so I had high expectations and fell in love the moment I walked in their doors. This restaurant gives you both French and Vietnamese food under the same room. If you find that weird don't be because most of Vietnamese food has a French touch to it. France colonized Vietnam in the 17th century and all was history including the French/Vietnamese food fusion!

I fell in love with the interior and atmosphere of this place. It's very open and also has a classic cafe feel to it. They have nice jazzy music and plenty of seats inside and outside. The kitchen isn't connected to the inside dining area, which is kind of nice because you don't have any noise distracting you while you relax. The waitress was super nice and the food came out fast and hot! Just the way I like it. I had the chance to sit by the large windows so I had a great view outside while enjoying my meal. There was no rush and it was actually quite peaceful. I'm curious why they don't have more customers to fill up this nice place.

I ordered some egg rolls and pho off their menu and have to say that these are probably the best egg rolls I have ever had. Excluding the ones my mother make. It's probably on the same level as my mothers actually because they taste very similar and they both are filled with the same mixture. These plump egg rolls have a meat mixture of pork and shrimp filling, carrots, wood ear mushrooms and glass noodles. Superb!

All I can say is wow! This is one of the best pho I've had at a restaurant. I notice that compared to other phos I've had there was no bean sprouts, herbs, tendons, tripe or meat balls, but in all honestly I didn't even notice until halfway in my bowl that it was missing. Alésia really does not skimp out when it comes to their food. This bowl was filled with all sorts of beef cuts which was super soft and it almost melts in your mouth. The scent of the broth is really strong and made my mouth watered while I was in a rush to take my photos. The noodles were probably my most favorite part of the dish. It was really chewy and cooked perfectly. None of that mushy noodles or ball of noodles that you get at other restaurants.

I also want to add that this dish didn't taste artificial at all which is another reason why I love it. I'm tired of restaurants making food full of sugar and other unnecessary ingredients. This was super fresh food cooked to perfection! This place really knows how to serve their Vietnamese food and I'll be glad to come back for more Vietnamese and also try out their French dishes!

Alésia Restaurant

7204 Central Ave

Saint Petersburg, FL 33707

727-345-9701

http://www.alesiarestaurant.com

Yelp

2011-12-18T16:39:00.001-05:00

I got my first Reviewer of the Day on Yelp! Woooot~

Food Truck Rally in St. Petersburg

2011-12-17T23:26:00.000-05:00

I have skipped out on two of the past Food Truck rally because there wasn't anything new to try. I decided to go to this one because I heard some Orlando trucks were going to be there and that got me excited. I will have to say hands down I find Orlando food trucks more interesting, but I think it could be that they aren't from around here.

I didn't really get to eat much from the food truck rally but I'll show you a few pictures from today. Here's some pictures of the locations and trucks.

Two new trucks that I tried out was Two Asians & A Grill and Tasty Stacy. I wanted to try Nubu since I thought their name was interesting but I didn't find anything that was calling out my name on their menu. There were a few other trucks but sadly I'm not a hotdog nor burger fan so I had to pass. I was looking for something different and fun.

From Two Asians & A Grill I couldn't decide what to get so the guys helped me out. I ended up with their hibachi fried rice with steak. Not too shabby. I wasn't a fan of their "goodie goodie?" sauce but their rice wasn't too bad. It was served hot and fast. The fried rice had enough seasoning that I didn't have to call for emergency soy sauce and the rice was soft and fluffed! Oh and there was corn in the fried rice, something I usually only find in my own homemade fried rice :)!

Their menu also had hibachi noodles or sushi. I have seen this truck before in hyde park but it was parked in a parking lot full of darkness a few weeks ago. I joked around saying they should take it out and BAM here I see it at the rally!

Next stop was this newly put up truck called Tasty Stacy. I thought the name was super cute, but that wasn't the only thing that was cute. The sick interior (pink leopard chairs) and pink decal just calls every girl and possible guy over. The ladies working were cute too, plus their adorable accessories. Super friendly!

I ordered their Penne Pasta with Pesto and also got to sample their Shrimp & Rice. I have to say that I didn't expect to get such a large amount of pasta which I never finished. The food is really fresh and all homemade which can explain why it may take a little longer to get your food than usual. The penne pasta with pesto was really light in flavor. It was good but possible not my favorite since I'm a huge flavor person. The shrimp & rice has a nice tangy kick to it and at the same time it's creamy and light. If I didn't have rice earlier I would have def gotten the shrimp & rice because it's such a nice refreshing dish.

I have noticed that after the First food truck rally in Tampa all the other rallies have been very calm. There's no 2 hour long lines and the locations are nice. There's even tables and chairs to sit while enjoying your meal and some music. It seems to be just a fun outing for the kids, dogs, friends and family!

As usual I'm a giant Whatever pop fan so I had to end my day with a popsicle. I absolutely love their Honey Blackberry Green Tea popsicle. I'm not even lying when I say I can eat a few of their popsicles at one event but I try not to! I also grabbed some beef and cheese empanadas to go from Mr. Empanadas and tried some Parmesan cheese fries from Fire Monkey I believe.

All is good :)
Enjoy~

Food truck rally in Tampa #1
Food truck rally in Tampa #2
Food truck rally in Pinellas #1

Chipotle - Brown Rice

2011-12-17T20:27:00.002-05:00

Chipotle has recently started carrying brown rice as an option and I love it! Brown rice takes a while to get use to because it's nothing like the fluffly white rice most people are normally use to. It's a bit harder and grittier and also nuttier in flavor. It's healthier and it also does not rise blood sugar quickly like white rice does.

Yum! My love for chipotle has just became overflowing.

Cake in a mug

2011-12-13T00:18:00.002-05:00

This was my first time trying this and I'm hooked! I wish I had chocolate chips or frosting on hand but this was pretty darn good, esp during those I NEED CAKE NOW moments.

I found my recipe here

http://www.instructables.com/id/5-minute-Chocolate-Cake/

Soobak - Davis Island Instagram

2011-12-09T22:46:00.001-05:00

Una Don (Unagi-Eel)

I love the food at Soobak but since it's so far from me I'm not able to visit as often as I want to. It is a place to really check out because they offer sushi, japanese and korean bentos and also frozen yogurt!

Nothing super fancy but it is pretty darn good and cheap!

Link to my review

Soobak - Davis Island

Quick Instagram update

2011-12-08T19:46:00.001-05:00

I've been really busy lately with finals and I have officially applied for USF and their Mass Communication/ Journalism & Media Studies. I've been thinking about it for the longest time and decided to just go for it. I have my A.A. and finishing up my Crime Scene Technology degree... so we'll see how things go :)

Here's an Instagram update

Came home from class to an full Korean dinner

Smoked ham wrap with white cheddar popcorn

Happy BDay to my friend Danny from Pyra-dise

My favorite tostadas from Taco Bus

Soba!

tonight's dinner :)

Riceee

2011-11-27T19:13:00.001-05:00

Just for fun :)

Thanksgiving and black Friday

2011-11-25T22:59:00.001-05:00

Had some ham for thanksgiving :) some mall food while shopping and ice cream!

Pumpkin pie and pistachio yum~

iPhone blogger style

2011-11-21T19:45:00.001-05:00

Mmm just got the blogger app in the iPhone. So does this mean more mini dena loves food updates? I think so!!

BBQ pork buns and boba before class :)

Steak!

2011-11-20T15:18:00.001-05:00

Who says steak is food for only men! I love my meat and I love my steak especially with A1 sauce! Of course I can't finish this giant piece but it was very delicious as left over :). (I'm a big left over eater)

I only get to eat steak every once in awhile so when I do I go crazy!

Pho at home

2011-11-20T15:11:00.001-05:00

How can you say no to a hearty bowl of Pho! I know I can't! I love eating this during the cold weather because it heats your body up and also soothes.

It also brings a bit of comfort to the heart :)