Caviar Chronicles

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I have driven past Side Bern’s many times on my way to its creator, Bern’s Steakhouse. Bern’s is like the “Mother Teresa” of Tampa dining establishments, and has the largest wine cellar in the WORLD.  Naturally I had high expectations & curiosity for its “Side”. My boyfriend and I one night tried to get into Bern’s without a reservation which is practically impossible unless you’re a famous food blogger (I am getting there) or George Clooney. We decided to sit at the bar (which we have done before….super fun) but were told to expect an hour wait…(sigh). We concluded that our first trip to Side Bern’s was obviously “meant to be” that night. Thankfully and as always, the Bern’s valet service was quite efficient and had us on our way for a 30 second drive over to our destination.

When you first walk into Side Burn’s you notice that part of the establishment is actually dedicated as a wine store. It’s not until you actually walk through the wine store and through another set of doors that you realize you have just been transported to a setting similar to a high end restaurant in Manhattan. It was the most rustic, urban, high-end atmosphere I had ever experienced in Tampa. Inside SideBerns it is dark and has an amazingly large abstract chandelier hanging that just screams NYC.  The bar is super long with bartenders who are working hard for “them” tips.  They even have outdoor seating as well.  The vibe is extremely cool and warm. After a 5 minute wait, we were quickly escorted to our table which was elegantly, clean and inviting.  The menu was easy to navigate and full of familiar indulgences such as Quail Egg paired with an Oxtail Dumpling. The happy hour menu is even extraordinarily reasonable. Bar bites are priced at $6.00 and included such items as Oysters and Pork Belly Bruschetta…..pure genius!! The happy hour cocktails also feature refreshing drinks like my favorite – the Paloma (tequila, grapefruit juice, lime and soda).

As soon as I read a few of the entrée’s on the dinner menu such as Seared Foie Gras and Prosciutto de Parma, I felt like I was home. My stomach grew eager and hungrier. We started with the beef tongue, which was a first for me. It reminded me of beef carpaccio but with more of a chew. I did not hate it, but if I had to choose again I would have probably tried something differently like the Chorizo Sausage that the waiter had recommended. However, the next course featuring Mussels with Truffle Fries was practically sinful. I could have eaten that for my app, entrée, and desert. However, my entrée was quite phenomenal. My Striped Sturgeon was quite on par, packed with massive flavors like truffle and chestnuts paired with my favorite veggies, brussel sprouts (my grandmother would be proud).  The entire meal and service proved to me that not all Tampa restaurants are like a crab shacks

They have an excellent chef who changes up the menu quite frequently. Alas, coupled with insistence on using only the freshest produce around will always keep customers excited (including me) and coming back for more. Would you believe a place this high in caliber offers a potluck dinner on Wednesday nights? They also had a kosher wine tasting yesterday for free. I would have totally been to that if I had noticed it yesterday.

• The dining room opens at 6pm Mon.-Sat.
• Lounge: 5pm-10pm Mon.-Thurs.
• Fri. & Sat. 5pm-11pm
• Located on 2209 W. Morrison Ave.

Unfortunately, they are not open for lunch. I guess we can allow the chef to have a break once and awhile since he is a genius at what he does. Check out this gem or you will forever regret missing the ultimate dining experience.  And as I once heard somewhere in Miami….guys….take your girl to Side Bern’s before someone else does!

$4 dollars tapas, $4 sangrias—I wish I was lying.

Conveniently, Ceviche has reopened right down the block from me.  I went to the first Hyde Park location in Tampa my sophomore year in college but, the food was gone much too fast for me to remember how delicious it was. In another life, my idea of perfection would be attending Ceviche’s tapas Tuesday.  I have probably been to Ceviche about 4 different times since it re-opened in  February.  Now, not everything on the regular menu is $4 but everything that is $4 is worth much more than that.  Last night, for the second time I indulged into a bowl of chorizo, and mussels.  It was the perfect fish accompanied with my red wine sangria.  It was smothered in a red tomato sauce that I was constantly dipping my steaming bread into.  The dish also features tons of red and yellow peppers sliced with onions.  The combination was just what I wanted, it was so satisfying and light but filled me the right way–a.k.a I could keep chugging down sangrias.

The great thing about Ceviche is not only its super close location, but the atmosphere is so lively and comforting.  There are 4 different rooms one can dine in, including the outdoor deck.  It is dark and romantic inside, but there are seating arrangements and people sitting anywhere and everywhere.  The outside deck is subdued yet cool equipped with warming lights for you polar bears out there. Anyone is also welcome to hang out on the deck and bring drinks his/her drinks from the bar.  There is also live music,including salsa (my favorite)!  If you are there on a bumping night, you can even spot some drunken latino/a’s getting it on, which automatically arouses me to shake what my momma gave me.

My recommendations for food are (not only the steaming, crunchy bread that comes with amazing pesto sauce) but for the menu outside the tapas tuesday menu:

• oaxtail braised in goodness (I never tried the thing until I came there, and it literally falls off the bone)
• Ceviche de La Casa featured with scallops, shrimp and you don’t even care what is in it because it is so fresh that I can taste the saltness of the ocean
• Ceviche de Salmon has frekin’ caviar in it. I’ll take 5 please.
• Atun Estilo Tarturo (aka tuna tartare for us illiterate Americans) is an adorable date snack and supremely fresh (screw T.G.I.F $20 for 2).It even comes with cute cones you can put the tuna into for a texture crunch

• Croquetas de Pollo, if you’re a fan of everything fried you might want to wrap your lips around this delicious fried chicken folded into bechamel sauce (Perfect for 2!)
• Almejos el Faro (described earlier) are unbelievably $4 dollars….served with generous chunks of chorizo and little neck clams, bread dips are welcomed
• Mejilones Catalan are probably the most delicious thing on this menu in my opinion.  Why?  It makes your stomach want to hug you it is so happy for the touch of cream and anise flavor. And did I say you can dip that hot bread in it=flavor explosion and comfort all at once.
• If you want to clean your palette and go for a healthier snack, order the ensalada de casa
• I think the great thing about all the meals on the tapas menu is that the dishes are relatively small so you do not feel overly obese while you’re eating it and can therefore save room for sangria which is AGAIN extremely important. 

Now if we are going to talk drinks, the motjitos are average but there are no sugar canes for you Latin natives and they are not as strong as I would hope.  The margaritas are ok, nothing extraordinary.  As for sangria, my friends love the champagne sangria but, I am just not a fan I think it tastes awkward so I always stick with the Red sangria.  It is a little sweet but, after a couple who can tell the difference?

So if you are with a large group of friends=make reservation ahead of time if going on weekend or Tuesday and buy a pitcher

If you are with a date, sit at the bar have a drink and order a bite before you sit down (the bartenders are extremely nice).

Ceviche in Hyde Park is also opened until 3am Tues.-Sat., and has brunch on weekends.  The brunch menu is just teasing.

• 2500 Azeele St.
• Lunch Mon.-Fri.
• (813) 250-0203 for more info.

–If you order takeout definitely ask for bread and pesto–

Food is so much more than people think it is.  My frekin’ life revolves around it.

I come in peace.

We rely on it for life, pleasure,satisfaction, and especially in my case of  procrastination and late night munchies.  I am from a family of foodies.  My aunt is a chef, my uncle Rob just opened a kitchen in Miami and my other uncle Ricky now owns a brick oven pizzeria in Chapel Hill, N.C. where my cousins make the pizza themselves.  Unlike other infants raised on baby food, I was raised on buffalo mozzarella imported from Italians hands (which I cannot complain about).  Rather than being strolled to restaurants like Applebees my parents strutted through Manhattan while I sat on the dining table in my baby seat, at Il Mulino.    Luckily, my father also worked in the produce industry which helped establish my palate for freshness.  I’ve been eating everything and anything since I had a mouth.  Uni was my favorite food at about age 9, while others my age were fascinated my frozen fish sticks.

I have always loved food –there is no doubt about that– but one day during my late highschool years I flickered through the food channel and literally became a TV foodnetwork junkie for who knows how long…. well I still am.  I started to experiment recipes in my own kitchen loving all the unique different combinations food could create.  It seemed endless.  I think the food network is what really sparked my appreciation for a delicious meal.  Watching a  professionally trained chef on tv create a foaming, colorful plate of art made me realize chefs are aliens from outa’ this world.

Unfortunately, I wish I could afford to buy truffles, sweet shrimp, and foi gras but I am frekin’ broke in college.  Luckily, though I have had the pleasure of wining and dining or others have had the pleasure of “wining” and dining me.  Therefore, I am here to share my lovely, inappropriate reviews and thoughts of restaurants that come encouraged with my ridiculous side notes. Bon Apetit!