Times May Change But The Elevator Urinator Keeps Peeing On and On

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

If you are a frequent LilyOnTheLam reader, you may remember my post on the "Manic Urinator" that has been making my condo elevator his/her own private port-a-potty.  Well we had a reprieve from the great debate whether the urine was from a dog or human when our elevator underwent maintenance for a month.  Sure I had to climb six flights daily, but I didn't have to tip toe around pools of urine either.

Well the elevator repairs were completed ahead of schedule - and now on day 5 of the elevator being back in service I got the great treat of riding up the elevator with my arms full of groceries and a slow moving pool of urine meandering dangerously close to my feet.

Sure I could have left the elevator and not looked back.  I could only imagine how many residents would ride the Urine Express Elevator without cleaning it up.  But no - today I would be an adult and clean up the disgusting mess that someone else has been chronically (and pathologically!) leaving behind without a care.  

They say that the holy trinity of serial killers is bedwetting, fire starting and cruelty to animals.  I think elevator-wetting should be in there too.  How sick do you have to be to allow your dog (or themselves) to relieve themselves in a public elevator constantly with no care or concern for anyone else who takes the elevator?  GROSS!

Maybe the offender is into Golden Showers and is trying to entice new playmates.  "Hey, here's a pool of urine - let's see what you can do with it!  Yeah baby!"

It's just disgusting.

So instead of just going into my condo and letting the urine be someone else's problem, I cleaned up the warm, yellow urine of unknown origin.  It took less than two minutes.  It takes much longer to clean my cats' litter!  I said a silent prayer that I was getting points in heaven for this before I threw away all the urine-soaked and cleaning product-soaked paper towels and went to scrub my hands thoroughly.

I left a basket containing a large roll of paper towels, a bottle of cleaning spray and a note imploring the offending resident to clean up after themselves, in the lobby.  I'm sure someone will just steal the lovely black and white basket and its contents to use in their home - but I am trying to be optimistic!  All of the other previous notes that residents had left had zero effect - maybe my lilting handwriting would finally convince the Elevator Urinator to take some personal responsibility.

Keep my elevator in your prayers, people!  I hope this is the last post about riding in elevators with URINE.

The Perfect Antidote to the Polar Vortex: Nakaya Japanese Bistro in South Tampa

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Growing up in Minnesota, I should feel ashamed that I start whining that I am cold anytime it gets below 65 degrees in Tampa Bay.  But I'M FREEZING!  My blood has thinned.  I am wearing multiple layers and have the heat blasting when it dipped down to the 40's the other night.  I wanted to get a giant bowl of soup and just sit in it.  So imagine my joy when I saw that Nakaya Japanese bistro had opened close to my home in South Tampa.  Advertising ramen and udon bowls, it was like the heavens had answered my prayers.  I knew I had to check it out right away.

Nakaya Japanese Bistro is located in the Walgreens plaza on Platt Street behind the UPS Store and the Cleaners in the former Nola/Second Street Cafe location.  (301 W. Platt Street but Google Maps is awful at finding it, so look for the northeast corner of Platt and Hyde Park Avenue)  Because it is tucked in the back, it can be easy to miss while driving by.  But if you like simple, well-made noodle bowls, seafood and sushi you will not want to miss Nakaya. 

For the first half of my lunch at Nakaya, I was the only one in the restaurant who was not speaking Japanese.  I loved this - with the shoji screen covered windows I felt like I was transported to a noodle house in Tokyo instead of being near the Leroy Selmon Expressway and downtown Tampa.  Even when the rest of the lunch crowd (English-speakers must lunch later?) arrived, I still felt like I was in another city.  It was fantastic.

The service was fantastic and very friendly.  They made sure my large cup of hot green tea was never empty and that I enjoyed every dish I ordered.

I started with the tuna tataki ($9.50 at the time of this writing).  The tuna was very fresh tasting and a large portion for the price.  The sauce was a perfect balance for the tuna.

On the lunch menu, they have ramen, chashu ramen, kakiage udon, kakiage soba, chicken katsu, karaage (Japanese fried chicken), tempura shrimp, garlic beef, teriyaki beef, salads and other items.  The kakiage udon is a large bowl of udon noodle soup with a tempura fried vegetable topper.  On the dinner menu, they have my favorite udon - shrimp tempura udon.  With my nicest smile, I asked my server if it would be possible to order the shrimp tempura udon noodle bowl ($9) even though it was not on the lunch menu.  She said it would be no problem.  Yay!

The shrimp tempura udon was wonderful.  The broth had a rich dashi-miso type flavor.  The noodles were perfectly cooked.  There was some lovely seaweed.  I believe the vegetable tempura was a fried Japanese lotus root which had a nice starchy flavor.  The tempura batter was fluffy and delicious laden with the rich broth.  The shrimp was nicely cooked.  On a cold day, this udon noodle bowl was a blessing for my stomach!

And if you like your udon spicy, don't forget to ask your Nakaya server for the "shichimi togarashi" - Japanese seven spice to spice up your noodle bowl!

I was impressed with Nakaya Japanese bistro - inexpensive, well-made food, in a relaxed atmosphere with great service.  Even their hot green tea was a step above!

They have a wide variety of appetizers and a small sushi menu as well.  I definitely will be back - I want to try their Chashu - Japanese barbecue pork, their wonton ramen, ponzu beef, pork katsu, their donuts and ice cream dessert and many more of their dishes!

If you are in South Tampa and like Japanese food, you must try Nakaya Japanese Bistro.

Tater Tot Duel - The Sequel!

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Happy Friday!  Last November, I wrote a "Tater Tot Duel" post comparing Merchants Restaurant of Nashville, Tennessee's tater tots against Anise Global Gastrobar of Tampa, Florida's tater tots.  (Read more about it here.)  But just like a good tater tot, one tater tot blog post is just not enough!

So ladies and gentlemen -- I give you … Tater Tot Duel - The Sequel.

In this corner … The Jumbo Bacon and Onion Tater Tots from Rise Kitchen & Bakery at the Seminole Hard Rock Hotel and Casino!

And in this corner … The Cheesy Tots from The Canopy Roof Top Bar at the Birchwood Hotel!

First let's start off with the Jumbo Bacon and Onion Tater Tots from Rise Kitchen & Bakery.  They were not kidding when they advertised them as "jumbo."  They are about two to two and a half times the size of your normal tot.  More of a tater log, if you will.  

Each order comes with four tater (logs) tots and a side of smoky balsamic ketchup from the Hard Rock's Council Oak steakhouse.  

The tater tots were crisp with a breading that you do not find on your "classic tot."  It reminded me more of a potato croquette than a true tater tot.  The inside was moist and packed with potato, bacon and onion.  

However when you advertise a dish as "bacon and onion" - I want to taste intense smoky bacon and onion flavor.  Although I could clearly see the bacon and onion, I wasn't getting a strong taste of it.  The bacon pieces lacked that smoky meaty taste that is bacon.  I wondered if they would have cooked the bacon crisper before blending it with the potato and onion and rolling it in breadcrumbs, would the bacon taste have been stronger?  It tasted more like bland ham bits than bacon.  

The accompanying ketchup was OK - I longed for more tomato and less barbecue-ish flavor.  Overall these tots were decent - I give an A for concept but a C for execution.

Now on to the cheesy tots from The Canopy Rooftop Bar at the Birchwood Hotel in St. Petersburg.  I apologize for repeating the photo here, but these tots were so good I didn't take any other pictures because I was too busy shoving them in my mouth.  

These tots contain cheddar cheese and fresh, vine-ripened shishitso peppers.  They were topped with what I believe to be feta cheese and green onions.  

These tots are from heaven - crispy, spicy, cheesy, pure potato-y, fried pillows of goodness.  Forget the spectacular view from the open rooftop bar.  Forget the swank fireplaces, couches and pretty servers.  Forget all of that!  Just stick me in a box on skid row with a bowl of these tots and I would be in heaven.  I physically had to stop myself from eating the entire bowl, they were that good!

They are on the rich side.  They soaked up more oil than I would have liked, but the taste was so decadent and flavorful!

The Canopy also serves a dish called "Tots, Tots, Tots!" which are tater tots with herb salt and lemon garlic aioli.  They also sell truffle fries, fresh cut fries and sweet potato fries if you are anti-tot (heaven forbid!).  Their menu for these items is titled "Fried Potato Specialities" - which might as well say "Deep Fried Love Messages From Jesus."    

I wanted to try the "Tots, Tots, Tots!" too but I was afraid of Tot Overload (as if there ever could be such a thing?!)  So next time I will have to go to The Canopy to try the non-cheesy tots.  (If I can stay away from those delicious cheesy tots!)

This tater tot duel was an epic battle of tot additives - bacon and onion versus cheese and peppers.  I commend both restaurants for offering the potato in my most favored "tot form."  However in this battle between Rise Kitchen & Bakery versus The Canopy - I have to say that The Canopy's "Cheesy Tots" wins hands down!

Congratulations to The Canopy and their delightfully cheesy, spicy tots!

And I have to say - you can't beat the rooftop view at the Canopy - here are some pictures …

Do you have any tater tot recommendations?  Please write them in the comments below!

Southern Food, Modern Down Home Atmosphere - Sylvia's Restaurant St. Petersburg

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

When I moved to Tampa many years ago, I knew that I would be missing out on many of the attributes of a larger city like my former homes in Los Angeles or even Minneapolis.  However I knew the beaches, good weather and the ability to recount half a dozen local "stupid criminal" true crime stories at the drop of the hat were worth taking a sacrifice in the "big city events" department.  

So when I heard that the Soul Food treat, Sylvia's (Queen of Soul Food) Harlem Restaurant was opening a 2nd location in St. Petersburg of all places, I felt proud that my city by the bay was gaining yet another jewel in its crown.  Watch out big cities, we're getting more fabulous places and we have great beaches!

However the holidays and end of the year work insanity hit me full force and my plans to try out Sylvia's were pushed to the back burner.  (For shame!)  However it is now 2014 - Happy New Year! - and time that I got myself over to Sylvia's St. Pete!

The restaurant is located a few blocks from St. Petersburg's "Grand Central" district.  It is down the street from Morean Arts Center for Clay - which has terrific pottery and sculpting classes.

I am not sure what I was expecting when I went to Sylvia's, but I was surprised by the beautiful, modern decor in warm brown tones.  It was like Southern luncheonette as seen through the eyes of a contemporary LA designer.  I marveled at the lovely floor and the ceiling design.  It was a really nice blend to have upscale, sophisticated, modern decor with down-home, "warm your heart and your belly" food.  

There is a nice side alcove and separate entrance to pick up take out orders.  The large glass case filled with pies and cake slices was like a siren's song.  I adverted my eyes!  

Service at Sylvia's is warm, friendly and inviting.  I swear there must be some frustrated monarch in me, because I love when you walk through a restaurant and multiple people say "hello" to you and welcome you to the restaurant.  Call me a diva, but I love it!

Complimentary cornbread and whipped butter greet you at the table.  I have never been a big cornbread fan - which is weird since I love corn, love bread - but go figure.  I did take a bite just to be able to report about it (I do it for you, my wonderful readers!)  It tasted like good quality cornbread.  

I had an unsweetened iced tea - it was crisp and tasted fresh-brewed.  I know if I were a traditional Southerner, I would have had a sweet tea.  However I prefer to eat my calories versus drink them.

Now if you are a dedicated LilyOnTheLam.Com reader, you may remember my post about chicken and waffles from 3 different restaurants.  If not, check it out here.  I had decided to try Sylvia's chicken and waffles.  They sell it two ways - California style (with brown gravy) and Harlem style (regular). I went with the Harlem style fried chicken.  

The plating above may look very simplistic, but I have to say that the waffle all on its own is one of my favorite waffles in Tampa Bay.  It was very crisp on the outside with a custardy-eggy rich center- which in my opinion is the perfect waffle.

The fried chicken had a savory, spicy, crisp coating with moist tender meat.  It was golden, not greasy.  I splashed some of Sylvia's hot sauce on it - it had a nice flavor with a decent amount of heat.

The problem with Sylvia's menu is that I wanted to try everything - ribs, fried green tomatoes, the daily lunch special.  Even though the chicken and waffle were quite filling, I also ordered a side of baked macaroni and cheese and collard greens to be able to try more items on Sylvia's menu.  I figured they would be good as leftovers for dinner.

The baked macaroni and cheese is perfection.  I don't like heavy soupy cheese sauce on my mac & cheese.  Sylvia's baked mac and cheese has firm elbow macaroni with pockets of cheesy goodness.  I also appreciated the bits of crisp baked cheese crust.  Delicious!

If you read my past blog post on collard greens, you will know that I am always on the search for delicious collard greens.  Sylvia's collard greens were terrific.  I find that most restaurant collard greens are overcooked and overly seasoned.  This was not the case at Sylvia's.  They were nicely cooked, very fresh and seasoned well.  You also have the choice of vegetarian collard greens or traditional style, which is a nice option.

With a box full of leftovers to go, I was pleasantly but not overwhelmingly full.  However my very nice server had to tempt me with "how about dessert - to go?"  Ohhhh again with that siren's song!  I acquiesced and ordered a slice of banana pudding cake to go.  Layers of dense, moist, sweet cake with banana filling and a whipped cream frosting and vanilla wafer topping.

I enjoyed lunch at Sylvia's Restaurant.  The decor was beautiful and modern.  The service was down-home friendly.  The food was fresh, well-seasoned and delicious.  And on my way out, four different staffers said goodbye to me, thanked me for visiting and hoped I would come back.  If you read my blog post on Elevage restaurant, you'll know I was frustrated by their poor service.  Perhaps the upscale eatery should send their waitstaff to Sylvia's to see how friendly, good service is done!  

I will definitely be back to Sylvia's Restaurant to try more of their fresh soul food in a modern, welcoming atmosphere.  

More Culinary New Year's Resolutions - Pho Quyen

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers -

Happy Day after New Year's Day!  If you read my post yesterday, you'll know that one of my New Year's resolutions was to stop procrastinating.  Or at least to stop procrastinating when it comes to fine dining.

Well for today's post, I am going to continue with my New Year's Resolution theme in a culinary fashion.  Today's resolution is a two-parter: 1) to look deeper - not just accept things on the surface and 2) to push beyond the comfortable and try new things.

I have lived in Tampa Bay for almost ten years now.  Early on, I discovered that the best pho (Vietnamese noodle soup) restaurant in town is Pho Quyen.  I would visit from time to time and would always order the hot Vietnamese soup.  I would load it up with hoisin sauce, sriracha and a fistful of Thai basil and I would be in heaven.

I never ordered anything at Pho Quyen other than pho.  Why would I?  The hearty broth was so rich and fragrant.  It was a giant bowl of comfort food.  I treated Pho Quyen as one dimensional - only appreciated them for their pho, when they have so much more to offer!    

For other types of Asian food, I would frequent China Yuen, Jo To, Thai Thani, TC Choys, Royal Thai, Thai Island and Plum Tree.  

Well a couple of months ago, for some reason I decided to actually look at Pho Quyen's extensive menu instead of just ordering pho.  I saw that they had crispy egg noodles - which I usually get at China Yuan Seafood Restaurant.  

I really wanted pho, but a little voice inside said I should try something new.  In the end, I decided to just order pho and the crispy egg noodles and take home a huge bag of leftovers.  (Evidently gluttony and excessiveness hasn't been targeted for my 2014 New Year's Resolutions!)

I was amazed at the crispy egg noodles - so fresh, crisp and with the best vegetables and chicken.  A little heavy on the sauce, but otherwise so good.  And an inexpensive, gigantic sized meal that could easily feed two people.

Chicken pan-fried noodles at Pho Quyen

I felt like an idiot that I had never tried anything other than pho at Pho Quyen - what else had I been missing?  I enjoy the crispy egg noodles at China Yuan, but I have to say that Pho Quyen's are even better.  (That's OK China Yuan, you still have my heart and my stomach for dim sum.  See pictures of China Yuan's dim sum here.)

Since my discovery I have been back to Pho Quyen four times - but now I've traded my pho obsession for a cripsy egg noodle obsession.  I have had the shrimp noodles as well as the chicken noodles.  Evidently I need to push myself again to try new things.  Maybe next time the beef crispy egg noodles or pork or tofu … heh heh.

I took my parents to Pho Quyen when they were in town for a visit.  My Mother had the whole steamed Pompano which she raved about - both in terms of freshness and flavor.

My father had the curry chicken on vermicelli.  Also fresh, tasty and a good mix of flavors.

  

Overall service is good and friendly.  Prices are inexpensive for such good food quality.  Pho Quyen also has online ordering for take out orders here.  It was already one of my favorite places, now it is even more so!

For 2014, I am going to try to experience more - try new things and not just settle for the surface … or at least I'll try to do that culinarily!  If you're in Tampa, I hope you will check out Pho Quyen Restaurant.

Your Culinary New Year Resolution - Restaurant BT

Happy New Year, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

I hope your 2014 will be happy, healthy and wonderful!  I also hope you avoid procrastination and focus on what you can do to make your life, the best life, today.  Don't wait!

In keeping with this spirit, I decided to write about one of my procrastinations and why I am so happy I finally followed through and didn't put it off for another day.

Years ago I went to a lovely, wonderful restaurant in Old Hyde Park Village in South Tampa.  It was called Restaurant BT - it was beautiful with friendly service.  The food was the equivalent of a great painting, except instead of using paint the Chef was using an elaborate palette of flavors.  Fresh ingredients and lovely layered flavors made a masterpiece for both the eye, the tongue and the stomach.  I watched Chef/Owner BT Nguyen quietly float around the restaurant like a maestro fine-tuning a symphony.  Impressive, all around.  

Even though I had a great experience at Restaurant BT,  since there are so many great restaurants in Tampa, I never managed to get back to their Hyde Park location for another meal.  Then awhile ago (probably several years now- oops) I heard Restaurant BT had changed locations.  (On MacDill near Bay to Bay - parking lot behind the restaurant.)  And I thought to myself "Their food was so good - I really need to check out their new location."  But call it culinary procrastination, every couple of months I would think about going to Restaurant BT but I never got around to doing it.  (Shame on me!)

(Side Note:  Restaurant BT has one of my favorite restaurant websites.  Please check it out here.  Chef/Owner BT Nguyen appears to be cool and classy - and so is her restaurant and her website.)  

Finally, with my parents visiting Thanksgiving week, I decided to bring them to Restaurant BT for dinner to see if it was as good as I remembered.

Well I am glad I finally, finally, finally went back to Restaurant BT because it was even better than my first experience.  My parents also agreed that the food was excellent, fresh, flavorful and extremely artistic.

The atmosphere is more intimate in the MacDill Avenue location than the previous location.  It is a mix of modern with hints of formal - bundled in earth tones and lucite-looking chairs.  This is not your every day restaurant.  We were warmly greeted and quickly seated.

I started with a Vietnamese Iced Coffee, served in this lovely container and then mixed table side.

My Mother is Queen of Hot Pots, Shabu Shabu, Cioppino and Bouillabaisse.  If there is a broth with quality seafood in it, my Mom is hovering nearby with a big spoon ready to give her opinion.  She ordered Restaurant BT's Vietnamese Bouillabaisse ($32).

Prawns, mussels, calamari, salmon, okra, tomato, pineapple, bean sprouts, lily stems and more vegetables and herbs in a very aromatic seafood broth.  My Mother gave this dish an A+.  She very much enjoyed it from presentation, flavor and freshness of the seafood.  If you're a bouillabaisse fan, you need to try Restaurant BT's.

My memory is a little fuzzy, but I believe that my Father ordered the Snapper a la Saigon ($28).  Wild caught snapper, lemongrass, shredded cabbage and ginger-turmeric-lemongrass rice.  He enjoyed the flavors and commented that the cucumber was a surprising pairing but added so much to the dish.  I find that at Restaurant BT there is nothing superfluous - every aspect of the dish is an essential element.

For my entree, I had the New Bedford Diver Scallops ($32).  First of all - look at the tomato rose with the cucumber leaves and the chive stem.  Isn't it gorgeous?  So pretty!  The outrageously perfectly cooked scallop was simmered in a sweet, fragrant broth of coconut milk, turmeric, ginger, kaffir lime, cayenne and galangal.  

The scallops are served on little round beds of coconut scented black rice - which had a lovely chewy, earthy mouth feel which paired incredibly well with the soft but firm scallop.  It was served with sugar snap peas in a lush rich but not overpowering sauce.  And I think sliced Japanese eggplant as well - is not my favorite vegetable but was very tasty here.  All of the sauces were so good.  I can't even describe how perfect the flavors were.  My family and I ate every single morsel.  No crumbs.  No doggy bags.  We devoured everything.

Service was quick and efficient.  I spotted Chef Nguyen pop out briefly to check on the main dining room.  Again, quiet elegance and ease of grace fine tuning.

This is what fine dining should be.  Fresh ingredients, layered symphonies of flavors, efficient customer service in a modern decor with intimate atmosphere.

For 2014, my New Year's Resolution is to stop putting off until tomorrow what I can do today.  I procrastinated going back to Restaurant BT for way too long.  I am glad I finally went to try their new location.  I will not wait so long for my next visit.  If you're in Tampa Bay, I highly recommend that you enter the elegant, flavor-rich world of Restaurant BT.