It's Official - A 2nd Trader Joe's Store will be coming to Tampa Bay!

2014 is going to be a great year because not only will South Tampa gets its first Trader Joe's, but St. Petersburg will be getting one too - according to the Tampa Bay Times.  (Read more about it here.)

Frankly, I fear that the South Tampa location will be a parking nightmare given its Dale Mabry and Swann location.  I can see myself driving further out to the 4th street St Pete location just to be able to get there without a road rage incident.

Happy Monday - Reasons to be Grateful

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Happy Monday!  I hope you had a great weekend!  I had a very fun weekend but as usual it seemed to pass in seconds and here I am back at Monday.

There are many reasons I enjoy living in Tampa Bay, but I do miss many of the more "cosmopolitan" aspects of living in a larger city.  When I lived in Los Angeles, I felt like everything was available at my fingertips 24-7.  Of course I also spent a majority of my life stuck in traffic, praying that there wouldn't be a drive by shooting from some road rage crazy neighboring car.  There are pros and cons to everything.

One of my free time passions is seeing great plays and musicals - a reason why so much of my budget gets gobbled up going to New York City 1-4 times a year to see Broadway shows.  But Tampa Bay and its surrounding environs, do have their own quality theater.  

Last week, I had a wonderful sampling of all Florida theater has to offer by seeing four shows-- Lorraine Hansberry's classic "A Raisin in the Sun" at South Tampa's Stageworks Theatre.  Conor McPherson's unnerving "The Birds" at St. Petersburg's American Stage Theatre.  The timeless "Fiddler on the Roof" musical performed with great vigor in a small space at freeFall Theatre in St. Pete.  And the chilling "Dracula - The Journal of Jonathan Harker" one man show at Orlando Shakespeare Theatre.   

All productions were amazing and a good reminder why it is so important to support local theatre.  I am a season ticket holder of American Stage Theatre, Jobsite Theatre and Orlando Shakespeare Theatre.  

All in all, it was a mighty week of theater - time and money well spent.  I do not mind driving from Tampa to Orlando for good theater, however there always seems to be some calamity on the drive back that delays me at least an extra hour.

Many months ago, I had traveled to Orlando to see a concert at the Hard Rock at Universal.  On the drive back, I was stuck in an almost no-movement traffic jam for almost an hour and a half.  

By the time, I creeped by the accident site that was holding up traffic I realized why so many rubber-neckers had done a slow crawl by.  Three lanes of the highway had items covered in white sheets.  I knew that a white sheet meant dead body - but the items under the sheets were too small to be bodies.  

I then felt an icy grasp on my heart as I realized it wasn't dead bodies under the white sheets - but body parts.  Evidently for whatever reason, a man had decided to run across I-4 Westbound and didn't make it.  He was hit by various cars and torn apart.  

All that was left of him was covered with white sheets across various lanes of Interstate.  The implied gore robbed me of any speech.  I just sat slack-jawed staring at it as all traffic as directed to drive on the shoulder.

So last night, I was driving back from Orlando when traffic on I-4 Westbound came to a dead stop.  I was only about 25 minutes from home, but it took 50 minutes to get through the traffic jam before I could proceed with the last 25 minutes of my journey.  I turned on the traffic channel on Sirius Radio and was told I-4 East and West were clear.  As I stared at miles ahead of me of brake lights and then also miles of standstill headlights on 1-4 East, I knew that Sirius was full of it.  There was something big that was holding up traffic in both directions.  And I could only hope there were not white sheets involved.

After fifty long boring minutes of staring at the brake lights of the car in front of me, I started approaching the accident scene.  On I-4 Eastbound, there seemed to be at least six cars being towed away.  On I-4 Westbound, which I was on, there seemed to be at least three cars in need of assistance.  

I wasn't sure how there could be so many accidents in one spot on both sides of the Interstate.  Perhaps the drivers on I-4 Westbound were too busy watching the accidents on I-4 Eastbound?  Who knows?  

As I drew closer, I saw the lanes of the interstate littered with debris.  In the dim light, I tried to ascertain what these items were - broken car parts?  Glass?  There was so much of it ahead, I didn't know how I'd spare my tires from it all.  

Then I made out a whole object.  I looked, squinted my eyes and looked again.  Surely my eyes were deceiving me.  

It couldn't be …

I looked and looked again.

It was a hot dog bun.

I looked further up and realized that the debris was all shredded, mangled parts of … hot dog buns.  

What???

Up ahead I saw an overturned barbecue smoker cart in a ditch.  Evidently one of the vehicles involved in the accident was a food truck and their hot dog buns had gone flying into four lanes of interstate.

Driving through a sea of obliterated hot dog buns was the most surreal experience I have had in quite some time.  It was like being trapped in a snow globe, but instead of white little flakes - it was all hot dog bun remnants. 

I don't know if anyone was seriously injured - and I do feel very sorry for the food truck owner in particular.  But I still could not keep myself from laughing as I slowly drove through all the hot dog buns.  It was a much more humorous experience than when I had previously driven alongside white sheet-covered body parts.  

Perhaps one day I will write a play where the main character moves slowly through an ocean of hot dog buns.  I am fairly certain it will be a masterpiece.  Until then, I will enjoy going to see "The Rocky Horror Picture Show" and being pelted with toast.

As I cleared the "highway of hot dog buns," I said a word of gratitude that I had not been part of the accident and I hoped that all involved were safe and uninjured.  

The macabre comedy of the butchered hot dog buns reminded me that sometimes we just need to laugh and be grateful.

I dedicate this post to my friend NL who ran a hot dog cart for a year and luckily never had her cart overturned in an accident.  Always reasons to be grateful - you just need to look for them.    

I hope this Monday finds you with more laughter than tears.  Thanks for reading!  

Waffling Between Pumpkin And Sweet Potato - Review of Trader Joe's Pumpkin Waffles

Hello LilyOnTheLam.com Readers -

If you read yesterday's post, you will know I am on a mission to eat my way through Trader Joe's seasonal pumpkin-flavored products.  Yesterday's blog post was on Trader Joe's Pumpkin Greek Yogurt.  

Next on the breakfast block is Trader Joe's Pumpkin Waffles.

A couple years in a frenzy of kitchen economics, I decided to donate my toaster to the Salvation Army.  I love, love, love bread and butter … but it is because of this mad, zany love that I don't allow myself to keep bread in the house (most of the time).  I could eat bread at every meal.  I should have a "I heart wheat" tattoo.  But as my expanding waist line indicates, wheat does not love me.  

I consider freezer waffles to be the lovely cousin to bread.  Growing up poor, our freezer never held the "Leggo my Eggo" frozen waffles that seemed to be the source of world peace and love according to the Saturday morning television commercials.  Now as an "adult" (or person masquerading as one) I do have the resources to stock my freezer with Eggo waffles (or Kashi waffles), but now I don't have the metabolism to deal with an all waffle diet.  

However on the rare occasion I allow myself frozen waffles, I do have a lovely Cuisinart toaster oven to allow me to toast my waffles.  Lack of toaster will not slow me down on my way to starchy carb nirvana!

As part of Trader Joe's seasonal, limited time only, pumpkin madness - they have brought out the "Pumpkin Waffles."  They are a slight orangish color, but not nuclear nacho cheese orange.  The scent of the waffles in the toaster oven was heavenly.  The outsides crisp up while the insides stay this amazingly lovely creamy almost custardy texture-- like a good French Toast (or "Pain Perdu" if you want to be all Frenchy about it.)  I've never had a frozen toaster waffle have such a custardy creamy center.  Let me tell you, I felt pretty ritzy with these toaster waffles.

However, I was hoping they would be so filled with pumpkin goodness that the first bite would be roaring with PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN, PUMPKIN!  Instead it was very mild - like a fall spice aftertaste way in the background.  My first thought was "Is this sweet potato?"  I read the ingredients and sure enough - just pumpkin, no sweet potato.

I very much enjoyed the texture of the waffle, but I was let down on the pumpkin.  I really wanted to get smacked in the face with pumpkinality.  (Yes, that's a word.)  I amped up the autumnal factor by drizzling cinnamon-infused syrup on it and it felt more like a "Fall dish."  But if you're looking for a super-pumpkin infused waffle, you would be disappointed by this.

I would recommend slicing some apples and simmering them in some apple cider on the stovetop until the apples are tender.  Then placed the cooked apples on a toasted waffle, garnish with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream and sprinkling with Trader Joe's Pumpkin Pie Spice.  With a treat like that, you won't be thinking about "where's the pumpkin?" or "is this sweet potato?"  You'll just be thinking "wow, this is delicious."

If Trader Joe's regular waffles have the crisp outside and creamy center of the pumpkin waffles, then I will be a big fan.    

Excuse Me, But There Is A Pumpkin In My Yogurt - Trader Joe's Pumpkin Yogurt

Hello LilyOnTheLam.com Readers:

Growing up in the Midwest, Spring and Autumn were my favorite times of the year.  Even though I live in Florida, my heart still thinks of a crisp chill in the air, apples, pumpkins and a roaring fire as the prelude to winter slowly settling.  

So when Trader Joe's sent out emails heralding their new seasonal, limited time only cavalcade of pumpkin products - I knew I had to try some of these autumnal yummies.

The rumor is that in 2014, there will be both a Trader Joe's in Tampa as well as one in St. Petersburg … but until then it takes a trip to Sarasota (an hour away) to get the Trader Joe's loveliness.  A small price to pay, in my opinion.

My refrigerator and freezer are now stocked with pumpkin products galore, so I thought I would share my thoughts on Trader Joe's seasonal delights.

I have a confession to make … I am a yogurt nerd.  I realize there are a multitude of flavor combinations out there, but my palate really only truly enjoys plain Greek yogurt - no flavoring, no sugar added.  Everything else tastes too sickly sweet for me.  Sort of like if I drink Coca-Cola, my taste buds are weaned on diet Coke and Coke Zero - so real sugared (or corn syrup-ed soda as the case may be) tastes like drinking pancake syrup to me.  

However despite my bland yogurt love, when I saw that Trader Joe's had a Pumpkin-flavored Greek yogurt I knew I needed to break ranks and try something new.

My first thought with the first spoonful?  Um, there's pumpkin in my yogurt.  The pumpkin has a nice fresh, autumn-spiced taste and the yogurt itself is very creamy.  It is non-fat for those of you who may be fat-phobic.  It was hearty-tasting and would make a nice filling breakfast with some granola.

However since I am so used to having unflavored yogurt, I decided to turn my pumpkin yogurt into dessert.  I alternately layered pumpkin yogurt with very thin layers of Trader Joe's cranberry sauce.  The tart cranberry sauce mellowed the sweetness of the yogurt and made a fun little dessert.

Had I had any of Trader Joe's triple ginger cookies on hand, I would have crumbled them up and made a pumpkin yogurt - cranberry sauce - ginger cookie parfait.  A nice autumnal dessert, if I do say so myself.

Since I am not a big flavored yogurt eater, I probably won't be stocking up on Trader Joe's pumpkin yogurt.  However if you like flavored yogurt and you like pumpkin, you should check out this limited time only Trader Joe's product while supplies last!

My love for kitchen gadgets, uni-taskers and possibly Hong Kong Egg-shaped Waffles

Dear LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

When I was young, I would watch cooking shows as well as cartoons.  When my sister was little, she too inherited the cooking show watching gene.  I remember having conversations with her when she was maybe 10 or 12 years old about Alton Brown's "Good Eats" cooking show.  Which may strike some as odd, but for some reason it seems particularly homey to me.  

One of Alton Brown's many recommendations was to stay away from products that were uni-taskers - kitchen gadgets that could only be used for one thing.  As a person with a small kitchen and a love of gadgets, this recommendation really hit home for me - and I would find myself saying "No, you can't buy this, it's a UNI-TASKER!"

Of course many times I failed in following Alton Brown's sage advice.  This is why I own a Williams-Sonoma pineapple upside down "cakelet" pan and a set of Lodge guitar-shaped cast iron mini skillets - neither of which I have ever used, but I still love nonetheless. 

So when I saw that Williams-Sonoma was selling "egglette" pans - Hong Kong egg-shaped waffle pans, the uni-tasker shopaholic inside me demanded to be satiated!  I have been to Hong Kong, but I have never had the creamy, crunchy egg shaped waffles (a.k.a. eggettes or "Gai Daan Jai") that street vendors sell there.  But advertising works and even though I have never tried this product, I suddenly felt my life would be incomplete if I didn't have a Hong Kong egg-shaped waffle maker at my disposal.

What if some Hong Kong pop star showed up at my Florida home?  What would I serve him or her?  Velveeta and Ritz Crackers?  I think not!  You see, dear readers, it is very important that I have the ability to make Hong Kong egg-shaped waffles!

But somewhere deep inside me, the words of Alton Brown reminded me that I should not purchase uni-taskers.  I would then look at the picture of the Williams-Sonoma egg waffle pans and thought about how unwieldly they would be on my ceramic cooking surface.  I imagined myself forgetting to use an oven mitt with the stainless steel handles, dropping the hot pan and cracking my stovetop.  Any horror scene designed to keep me away  from purchasing the $49.95 waffle pans.

That approach to restraining myself kept the shopaholic demons at bay for maybe 2 years ...

And then I discovered this ...

The CucinaPro electric bubble waffle maker for $39.99 ("Bubble Waffler").  

And I caved.  Advertising won.  I had to have it.

I have a Hello Kitty waffle maker.  A waffle sticks style waffle maker.  A set of waffle making plates for my Cuisinart griddler.  And now I have a Hong Kong style egg waffle maker!  (Did I mention I also want one of those Belgian waffle makers that you can rotate?  Ohhh the waffle maker shopaholic is a cruel, cruel master!)

Oh and did I happen to mention I try not to make starchy carbs at home ... so all of these waffle makers sit patiently until the 1-2 times a year I host a brunch at my home.  And yet I still disregarded Alton Brown's so true advice about avoiding multi-taskers.  (Although check out this link about other ways you can use your waffle maker besides for making waffles!) 

The CucinaPro Bubble Waffle Maker just arrived today!  I now have to run out and find some custard powder to try the recipe from food blogger in Dubai www.GingerandScotch.com.

Stay tuned to LilyOnTheLam.com to find out if this uni-tasker was worth the purchase!

The Salvador Dali of Desserts - Cena Restaurant Channelside

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Yesterday, I saw the final performance of Lorraine Hansberry's "A Raisin in the Sun" at South Tampa's Stageworks Theatre at Grand Central in the Channelside district.  The play was directed by Ron Bobb-Semple.  I had seen Mr. Bobb-Semple as Hedley in August Wilson's Seven Guitars at American Stage Theatre in St. Petersburg.  I was rendered speechless at his amazing performance, so I knew his version of "A Raisin in the Sun" would be awe-inspiring as well.  (And I was not wrong!) 

Also starring in Stageworks production of "A Raisin in the Sun" (and also American Stage Theatre's Seven Guitar) is the delightful and multi-talented actress Tia Jemison.  Check her out here. 

After the show, my friend and I decided to grab some appetizers at the restaurant Cena, which is located next door to Stageworks Theatre.  But when we saw the table next to us getting the most gorgeous and elaborate looking desserts, we knew we would have to get dessert as well.

Let's start with the appetizers first ...

Mushroom arancini with truffle fonduta - I was really excited to try these because I love arancini - rice balls filled with peas, cheese and other various fillings coated in bread crumbs and fried.  There are three rice balls per order, but I was so greedy I snatched one off the plate before thinking of taking a picture!

The pros: these arancini are a nice size with a tasty crispy coating and a delicious sauce.  The cons: the rice was very hard, I am used to a creamy risotto like consistency.  I also could not really taste the mushroom and while I could see the peas, I couldn't taste them either.  They were a nice treat, but if you pick yourself up a box of Trader Joe's frozen arancini, you'll have just as good of a treat at less than half the price.

Arancini from Cena

Fried eggplant.  I am not a big eggplant fan, but my dining companion selected this item and I am glad she did, because I enjoyed it.  The sauce was very similar to the sauce that accompanied the arancini, so much so that I thought it might be the same.  

The eggplant had a crisp coating and the cheese was particularly flavorful.  However if you paid me a million dollars I couldn't guess that this was eggplant.  It could have been veal, it could have been tofu - all I tasted was fried crispy cheesiness.  Which is not a bad thing, but if you're an eggplant purist you are not going to find intense eggplant flavor here.  I would definitely order the eggplant again.

Fried eggplant from Cena

Prosciutto-wrapped scallops with pasta and mushroom salad.  This appetizer was a special and not on the regular menu.  The pros - the scallops were cooked perfectly.  The prosciutto was crispy with a nice flavor.  The mushrooms in the warm salad accompaniment (chanterelles, I think?) were delicious.  

The cons - the scallops were crazy salty.  I have a feeling they salted the scallops before wrapping them in the prosciutto. I like salt as much as the next person, but these were borderline inedible.  The pasta in the accompanying warm salad was too al dente - very hard.  The garlic and rosemary was overpowering - and this from a person who loves garlic.  

Prosciutto-wrapped scallops

Tiramisu.  My friend ordered the tiramisu and once I saw it, I immediately wanted to distract her and switch plates.  Sadly I put friendship over dessert, this time.

However I will return to Cena just to get this dessert and eat it greedily all by myself.  It really is worth the trip just for this one dessert.

Cena's tiramisu reminded me of Salvador Dali's Geopoliticus Child Watching The Birth of New Man.  From as far as I can tell it is a deconstructed tiramisu - a mascarpone egg stuffed with espresso-soaked lady fingers on a bed of crispy chocolaty cookie crunch.  It is beyond delicious.  If you like tiramisu, you have to try Cena's version.  

The most gorgeous tiramisu

Boccocini Con Crema.  Two caramel crusted cream puffs with mascarpone fluff, strawberries and pistachio cream.  

This dessert was also a feast for the eyes.  Two hard candy coated cream puffs stuffed with chopped strawberries and cream.  Topped with a macaron stuffed a strawberry slice with a chocolate accent.  I love strawberries and cream.  The cream puff filling and the macarons were the best part.  The macarons had both the crunch and chewiness of a perfect macaron.  The caramel crusted cream puff pastry didn't do much for me.  It was a fine dessert, but when you're staring at the gorgeous tiramisu while eating it ... well you feel like you missed out.

Service:  our server seemed new but I don't know if that was truly the case.  The other servers around us seemed to be more at ease in discussing the food and truly upselling it.  Our server read directly off her specials card and didn't seem to know what she was talking about when reading the descriptions of the food.

Overall:  There were some pluses and minuses at Cena, but the true winners were in the dessert department.  The prices were on the higher end side, but is a great place for after-theater drinks and dessert.  I would definitely visit Cena again.

Most Offensive Marketing Campaign I Have Seen In Quite Some Time

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Once upon a time, I lived around the corner from The Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, California.  It was very much the embodiment of the Truman Capote quote that you lose one IQ point for every year you live on the West Coast - except in my case I think it was ten IQ points a year.  I became much more shallow and vapid than ever before.  (And that's saying something!)  

I spent my time partying in Hollywood 6-7 night a week and achieved the lamest distinction of "Girl who hangs out with the British girl who wears her hair in braids."  Yes, when I'd go to bars guys would come up to me and say "Hey - you're the girl who hangs out with the British girl who wears her hair in braids!"  And that sad part is that I would instantly pep up and be "YESSS!  THAT'S ME!  I am the girl who hangs out with the British girl who wears her hair in braids!" and I'd be all keen on being "recognized."  What can I say, people?  I was very young at the time.

When not partying, I was shopping and dining.  I had my first really "adult" apartment.  (Meaning that I didn't have to hang comforters on all the windows to stay warm).  And I was eager to furnish it.  So shop, shop, shop I did.  

One of the stores, my "lower IQ, shopping obsessed" LA self liked to frequent was a quirky little store called Kitson.  It's a fun store that sells crap you don't need.  Which was pretty much the criteria for any store I liked in my teens and early 20's.  I used to think fondly of Kitson.  Notice the past tense.

Today I saw a Kitson promotion that literally made me want to throw up in my mouth, then take a flight to Los Angeles and throw up on every Kitson marketing person I could find.  

If you're a frequent LilyOnTheLam.com reader, you may remember my book review on Kristen Johnston's fabulous autobiography "GUTS."  It is an inspiring book on life and overcoming addiction.  Well Kitson decided it would be a great idea to give away Kristen Johnston's book if you buy one of their Team Xanax or Team Vicodin sweatshirts.  See their heinous ad here.  

In my opinion, Kitson's marketing campaign to push their clothing ridicules Kristen Johnston's struggle, mocks addiction and trivializes the struggle of many people around the world.  It seems like a humongous insult to wield just to sell some dumb sweatshirts.    

Kitson sells Rihanna t-shirts, would they offer an instruction manual on how to beat women for free with these shirts?  I understand trying to be tongue in cheek humorous and that sometimes a little off color behavior can really promote a product.  (I'm looking at you, Miley Cyrus.)  

But when you look at how many people are struggling with addiction and how many people, especially young people, have lost their battles with addiction - I just have to say "Really Kitson?"  You should be ashamed of yourselves.

In the same week, the TV show Glee will be airing their tribute episode to young actor Cory Monteith who died from heroin and alcohol intoxication; to look at a Kitson ad promoting "Team Xanax" and "Team Vicodin" seems to be slapping the young shopper demographic they should be courting in the face.  Where is "Team Overdose," "Team Death," "Team Losing Your Future"?

Do yourself a favor and purchase Kristen Johnston's book from your neighborhood book seller.  It's a great book and a must read.   

And shame, shame on you, Kitson LA.  In life and commercialism, you can choose to promote good or focus on damaging the very consumers that fund your company.  Why choose damage?  You can keep your sweatshirt.  I'm on "Team Boycott Kitson's Offensive Marketing Campaigns."  

Oct. 8 Update:  Please read this moving post from Bill Williams for more on the above.