Bento Redux

  Another long morning in the newsroom of the Tribune means one thing.... the short walk to Publix to grab a sandwich for lunch. But wait, what's that..... no, don't be fooled again. Remember the last bento box from here had southwestern chicken in it. But I'm a bento junkie and I see what looks like a little Asian meatball in the compartment that held the offending chicken. I got fooled again. Soggy salmon, limp tuna, bland roll an nasty Asian tasting meatball? like thing. I gotta start my own business.

Finally!

  We've been looking for decent pancakes in St. Petersburg for years, and we finally found them. Grill Side Central in downtown St. Petersburg serves up some great buttermilk pancakes. The perfect batter is the key ingredient but they also manage to cook the stack of three delicious cakes through, sometimes with a crusty edge. Crispy apple wood bacon makes the perfect side. They have an extensive breakfast, lunch and dinner menu, but the pancakes will keep us coming back. Black and white photos of Florida roadside attractions (by a local photographer) gives a funky yet hip atmosphere.

An Old Friend

  I've been eating at Tangelo's since they were located a few blocks away from their current location on 1st Avenue North between 2nd and 3rd Streets. That's got to be at least 16 or 17 years. It's like visiting an old friend. And one of the words I can use to describe Mike and Lisa Brennan's restaurant is consistency. They consistently make some of the best Cuban sandwiches and black beans and rice around. My favorite has always been the roast pork sandwich with double black beans and rice. And the prefect condiment for such a simple sandwich has gotta be Matouk's Calypso Hot Sauce. Scotch Bonnet peppers at their best.

  They always offer interesting daily specials, but I find myself coming back for an old favorite.  

Make it a Meal

  Met up with former Cafe Alma owners Catherine and Dwight Watkins over the weekend for dinner. We went out to the beach to visit Snapper's. Their claim to fame is it is owned by local fishermen, so you can bet the fresh catch is the freshest. 

  We mentioned that at a Taste of Pinellas several weeks ago that Snapper's Pan-seared Diver Scallop stole the show for us, and did this evening as well. It's featured as an appetizer but with a little work could be a great entree. The scallops are seared perfectly and melt in your mouth. The bed of Israeli cous-cous they rest on is a nice touch.

  Another appetizer that stood out was the Blue Tuna. Choice tuna rolled in black sesame and pan-seared, sliced and served on top of cucumber slices and drizzled with a blueberry sauce. If only the Miso Glazed Snapper would have been as good. A nice glass of wine and Kirin Ichiban made for a nice meal with friends.