Ellen in TAMPA, Pt 4, ARCO IRIS, TOO JAY'S , ALESSI BAKERY, etc

Wed. Dec. 17th, 2008.. Day #5 of my 5 days in Tampa begins..  My last day!!
My flight is at 4:45 pm from Tampa back to Philly; squeezing in as much as I can!!
 
ARCO IRIS, Columbus Blvd, near airport
 
I had the PICADILLO BEEF.  That's my staple Cuban dish

It was decent comfort food, and only around $6.00 . I add hot sauce to it..
I also ordered some real good SPLIT PEA soup .
Then I ordered a BAKED CHICKEN to take out.... hey, for only about another
5 or 6 bucks, I could'nt resist! It was good, too, but I just had a little bit of it..
Mostly I just wanted to taste it , and get the PIC for you guys!
 
I had to save room for my next stop, TOO JAY'S DELI !
I went to the one in the International Plaza Mall, near the Tampa airport.
Kudos for having the Menorah in the window, Too Jay's!

The International Plaza, Tampa has a very attractive open-air design.
I call it "California style". I liked the architecture.

It's tough finding mom and pop restaurants here; Like most malls DO, they went with the chains, mostly better than average ones, at least, IMO.
BAAH BEN: They've got a CHEESECAKE FACTORY for you!

  Here's some BLACK AND WHITES and some holiday "Green and Red's".

Who's DROOLING yet? Are you drooling yet, BAAH BEN? I know how much you love their black and whites!  I bought some mini ones. Yum!!!
I tried ordering some CHOCOLATE RUGALLAH, my favorite, but they were out of them. Also out of Cinammon flavored. So I went with my 3rd choice, the
RAISIN RUGALLAH, and I was'nt sorry!!!

I love the way the counter gal nicely yelled out to the other gal to make some more rugallah!! Cause it was great that they make it so FRESH !
In the supermarket, rugallah oftens sits in packages for who knows how long..
 
I had some real good MATZOH BALL soup and some COLE SLAW

I'm smart enough to not try the pastrami, due to my extra high standards..
The sign on the door said they use "National Brand" pastrami, which IMO is a better brand than most. It would be VERY suitable for most; just does'nt get me excited enough. So I went with trying various bakery items, etc.
Some of the dinners sounded good for future visits. Too Jay's is chain, with tons of Florida locations.
 
I bought some bakery and counter items to take back home to my AC area.
Bottom left: RUGALLAH, the best I EVER had!! So fresh, and just perfect.
Top left: CHEESE BLINTZ, nothing special

Top right: POTATO PANCAKE, also nothing special
Bottom right: Mini black and whites, REAL good!
I figure  I would take some if home and spread out the calories a little bit! (LOL)
 

Gosh, Ellen.  I was in that neck of the woods on some of the same days.

Too bad we didn't find a way to break bread together ... I need to have you touter me in picture taking.  I did some exporing, but most of my food pixs sucked.

Isn't the name of the restaurant Arco Iris?

I think buffetbuster and I drove past that place.  If I am not mistaken, it is really close to La Teresita.  I knew that someone here mentioned it favorably.  Unfortunately, the voice of wanderingjew kicked into my head - and your picture of the sign is visual proof....

Cuban and Chinese food???? 

Good-looking food at the Cuban place, Ellen.  I must say that the picadillo looks different from what the Miami Cubans do.  Did it have olives and raisins in it?  It also used to be impossible to find a bottle of hot sauce in a Cuban restaurant here, but now a lot of their customers are other Latin Americans, so things are changing, I suppose.

Red & Greens - How festive!

The Travelin Man


Isn't the name of the restaurant Arco Iris?
I think buffetbuster and I drove past that place.  If I am not mistaken, it is really close to La Teresita. 
Cuban and Chinese food???? 

Appreciate the correction on the name! That WAS'NT a typo on my part, either..
just me continually thinking the name was Arco Isis.
 
Yes, you're right, Arco Iris is real close to La Teresita;  about 1/2 mile or so away
I drove by La Teresita a few times before finding it, as the signage is so bad!
The name is built right into the wall; no free standing sign.
I looked inside, did'nt end up eating there, but I did get the PIC!

 
Supposedly, that Cuban-Chinese food stuff dated back to the old days when there were a good amount of Chinese immigrants coming into Tampa for work.
Perhaps they worked right alongside the Cuban immigrants in the cigar factories, and the railroads....

wheregreggeats.com

Too bad we didn't find a way to break bread together ...

But soon we WILL be baking bread together again!
I'm already looking forward to "meating up" with you in May for that Western Mass. tour! (you can see how excited I am , as I wrote about 2 paragraphs in that Western Mass. thread last week)
 
 Looks like YOU'LL be our tour guide, Gregg, since you're our NORTHAMPTON guy

MiamiDon


  I must say that the picadillo looks different from what the Miami Cubans do.  Did it have olives and raisins in it? 

Yes to the olive and raisins, if I remember correctly.
I still like giving it a little kick with that hot sauce..

ellen4641

MiamiDon


  I must say that the picadillo looks different from what the Miami Cubans do.  Did it have olives and raisins in it? 

Yes to the olive and raisins, if I remember correctly.
I still like giving it a little kick with that hot sauce..

Oh, sure, nothing wrong with that.
 
A recent immigrant from Cuba in my office told me that she didn't like spicy food, "Because I'm spicy enough."

Interesting assortment of food items, Ellen.  You did good!

I've never ordered Picadillo.  Now I'm thinking that maybe I should with an order of chicken to go the next time I go to a Cuban restaurant.

Green and Reds!  Red and Greens!  (I wouldn't want to make a mistake)  How cute!  

I have for the life of me never understood Black and Whites.  What is so special about them?  My brother's inlaws pick them up at Brent's whenever they are going to visit.  They think that everyone loves them.   

I've never seen one naked blintz in a to go carton before.  Not appealing at all and I love them.... with sour cream and jelly.

How was the Knadel?  (Matzo Ball)  It looks tasty, but hard.  Just like I like them.

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Which one is Mighty Isis? Which one is our Female RF Superhero, Ellen?

mar52

How was the Knadel?  (Matzo Ball)  It looks tasty, but hard.  Just like I like them.

I'm with YOU, Marlene! I like a REAL FIRM BALL....this one was tasty, but not firm enough for my own personal tastes. Of course, Mom (RIP) made it the best.
 
My picadillo shows that I do experiment a little beyond my burgers and wings..
(LOL)
 
 
 

CCinNJ

Which one is Mighty Isis? Which one is our Female RF Superhero, Ellen?

Actually, I like my ARCO ISIS name better !  The IRIS makes me think of the IRIS of an eye..
I think those gals are TWINS, huh?!?!!

I believe there was a chinese (labor) community in cuba dating back to the late 1700's or 1800's.


edit: a quick search on google confirms this. looks like it was mid 1800's though


and one more edit for a couple of sources:

wikipedia

Barrio Chino

Next up, the ALESSI BAKERY on Cypress St., only a few miles away, if that.  From a Jewish style bakery to an ITALIAN one, I cover all bases.
My good buddy , Signman, recommended this place

Wait a minute, is this a BAKERY or a CHEESESTEAK JOINT?!?

Looks like they're covering all THEIR bases, too!
Hey, I should've tried one, just for the heck of it! (even though I was stuffed, of course).  Well, next time!!!
 
More COLORFUL COOKIES to look at! ALESSI BAKERY, TAMPA

DANISH, anyone?

I settled for a CHOCOLATE CUPCAKE. I was'nt going to let myself leave there emptyhanded! That would be against ROADFOOD RULES!

I just love a good cupcake!
 
It's now early afternoon, and I have time for ONE FINAL MEAL in TAMPA!
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE !!!
 
It looks like I'm up to my old ways again; here's where I picked to go.

Yes, Florida for Buffalo Wings! Wandering Jew will not be happy about this
THE WILD WING CAFE, in the Citrus Park section of TAMPA
It's part of a regional chain; I'd been to one in N. Myrtle Beach, and one in Charleston. It's been over 5 years, so I was overdue for a return visit!
 
I just LOVE their 5 flavor WING SAMPLER ! A steal for $18.95 
My favorite was their "SLAYER" flavor, which was a hot garlic sauce!
They are in the top left of pic.  I also had "hot", (the saucy ones to the left of the SLAYER ones) "medium", "general's RED", and "wild west"(ranch seasoning)

I was a happy camper!  Oops, I still did'nt my extra side of medium sauce.
Here it is now.....MEDIUM wing sauce (nice and orangey)

 
This has been a fun report to do! Cause it was espescially neat to start getting responses right after I began pasting my pics!
Part 4 is going over so well ............... I love it!
 
However, LEETHEBARD, you're really LATE into this one!
Where ARE you?
 
 

mar52

I have for the life of me never understood Black and Whites.  What is so special about them?  

I'm not sure, either....maybe BAAH BEN can jump in and tell us!
I know I tend to order them once in awhile for nostalgia sake. I like them, but I don't love them. However, I must add that TOO JAY'S version were SO fresh, that I liked them better than I usually do......(the choc. and vanilla icing was still moist)

Ellen - You're in Cuban food heaven I see ...You don't do Chinese and I don't do Cuban, unless necessary.  Most eveyone else likes it so sometimes I have to say "What the ....("Risky Business" 19__)

I see you were at So Fla's number one "slicing" deli - TooJay's.  Some of that food looked very good!  Just stay away from the corned beef and pastrami, if you're a NY'er.  You'll be disappointed.  I have reported several times about their mini black and white cookies..something I have not seen even in NYC..When I was there.  They are pretty good.

MR52 - What's so special about them?  Nothing as far as I am concerned, but they have a lot of loyal Northerners, who love them.  B&W cookies and rasberry or apricot filled linzer tarts are two of the most popular bakery items in the Jewish bakeries up north.  Add seven layer cake to that as well.

In the outer boros like Brooklyn and Queens, these are always found.   Most of the good diners also make them.  When the cookie dough/batter is made with butter, the black and whites are good.  The linzer tarts that are made the right way, with real rasberry or apricot preserves, butter and ground walnuts in the cookie dough, are terrific.

In the diners, they make huge b&w and linzer cookies.

Ellen - glad you could get your Cuban food fix...Thanks for the great pictures as usual.  I use to love going to the Cheesecake Factory..They have this Shrimp BLT Po Boy that I use to love.  Did you know all their cheesecakes are shipped in frozen..They have a commissary that makes them. 

I am not a big fan of cheesecake except for Junior's or Lindy's.  They are never rich enough for me.  I only like the real dense one that makes use of a lot of cream cheese.  I hate the light puffy type that you can put your fork right through.

Thanks, Baah Ben.  Still don't get it.  

The only thing I see going for them is their size.  I can hear my mother now...

You can only have one cookie...

Baah Ben


Ellen - You're in Cuban food heaven I see ...You don't do Chinese and I don't do Cuban, unless necessary.   

I am not a big fan of cheesecake except for Junior's or Lindy's.  They are never rich enough for me.  I only like the real dense one that makes use of a lot of cream cheese. 

Chuck,
You MUST have the CHEESECAKE at Harold's Deli then!
I just picked some up yesterday (stay tuned for my  Harold's/East Brunswick report!!) . Like Harold says on his sign, it really IS the best ever!
It's very RICH and CREAMY, just the way I like it , TOO.
It will take me all week to finish this $12.45 slice...(gotta spread the calories out, too....my little "trick", LOL)
 
I like Chinese food, but usually not when I'm out of town....( since I can get some decent stuff around here.)......I AM game to try that place Leann's in your Daytona area, though.......gotta see what Leann's is all about...
 
My favorite Cuban dish, (by far) is still the 1/2 Roasted Garlic Chicken from Versailles in L.A. They've got 5 locations, and no relation to the Miami Versailles..
 
Harolds' report coming later, hopefully..........gotta run to a POKER TOURNEY benefit we're having at the Elks Club in Egg Harbor Township for a fellow casino dealer that had a stroke. $50.00 buy-in.....we play for prizes , like a flat screen TV, department store gift cards, etc... should be at least 70 people there
plus some good homemade munchies a couple of gals are bringing...
 
Love your comments, everyone.......good, bad or indifferent, keep 'em coming!! 

Ellen..Watch your "tells" girl...Don't let them see you sweat.  Bring home the bacon ..Ahh I mean the flat screen tv!

It would be hard to get the roadfoodies to pass up the Brickyard next time they are in town, but Leahan would treat us like kings if we had a rf meat up there.
 
A Harold's report!  I LOVE IT!!

Ellen,  I'm going to give the Manhattan Beach Versaille location another try.

I LOVE their chicken!  I cut it and the plantains up in tiny pieces and then mix it up with the black beans, rice, onions and lots of sauce.

I think it might be my favorite take out meal in Los Angeles.

Ellen, another wonderful report, although we were all waiting for the bikini shot of that hot gal that was in the lineup at the Winghouse. You know, the one in blue?  Maybe next time.

Now that I"ve figured out how to work the camera my kids gave me and post a photo here, I'll start trying some reports as well.  However, if we do the Haulover Roadfood thing, ALL CAMERAS ARE BANNED!

By the way, I've been to Alessi's and loved their stuff, but I, too, decided to forego the Cheesesteak experience.

Ellen, great job on this Tampa report.
 
You tackled that wing sampler all by yourself?  You're the best!!! 

FriedClamFanatic


Ellen,  we were all waiting for the bikini shot of that hot gal that was in the lineup at the Winghouse. You know, the one in blue? 

Hopefully you'll settle for a hot gal in a green and white striped shirt! (LOL)

Ellen and some of her fellow casino poker dealers !
It's a very fresh pic, taken only 2 hours ago at the Elks Club; we were getting ready to play in the poker tourney fundraiser for dealer TIM.
(I got "knocked out" of the tourney early, (bad luck!!) so on the bright side, I had plenty of time to put together a "Flickr"album to e-mail to fellow dealers) 

joerogo

You tackled that wing sampler all by yourself?  You're the best!!! 

I did'nt really tackle it; I just nibbled on the skin,  (I don't do justice to the meat!)
I've driven guys crazy, as they hate to see me waste all that meat!
(I had one guy grab the rest of the wings and finish them off himself...that was the first time we were out together; he was'nt shy...
 

Baah Ben


Ellen..Watch your "tells" girl...Don't let them see you sweat.  Bring home the bacon ..Ahh I mean the flat screen tv!

No flat screen TV for me, but I did get to eat some good meatballs and lasagne,  anyway..
Then Moi showed up with her famous Vietnamese egg rolls, etc. , that she finished cooking up in the back kitchen .. 
And , finally, the tourney was about to begin. We ended up with 6 tables.
 
My competition was mostly fellow Borgata poker dealers... it was fun schmoozing.... 
I went "all-in" after the flop with my pocket Queens. The other guy had pocket 8's. Would'nt you know an 8 came on the "river"...(the very last card).
So he made 3 of a kind. That's poker for you! 

Well, here I am Ellen...better late than never.....yup great report...and you sure do cover all the basis...ove the variety at the Italian bakery...I could practically smell the place!!!! And that cupcake would certainly have been one I tried!!!
           Thanks for your usual comprehensive and most enjoyable post!!!

Hey, those ELks shots were pretty good too!  Thanks

mar52


Ellen,  I'm going to give the Manhattan Beach Versaille location another try.
I LOVE their chicken!  

Oh yeah!! That 1/2 roasted garlic chicken at Versailles is still my favorite Cuban dish in the country! Even if I went to Cuba, I probably could'nt find one better!
(5 locations in L.A., and no relation to the Miami, FL Versailles)
Yes, it does taste good when the plantains and the rice all get mixed up with that yummy orangey/lime garlic sauce !

ellen4641 -

Thank you for taking us along on your excursion.
Everything looks so good, i'll have one of each.
Looking forward to more reports.

Ellen, I really like the look of that picadillo.  Never had it but want to try after seeing your pics!  Keep rockin' the great reports, Roadfood Warrior!