If It's Good Enough For The President, It's Good Enough For Me

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

I love dim sum - the Chinese mini appetizers brunch - to put an American definition on it.  One of my favorite places for dim sum (or yum cha, as it is also called) is East Ocean Restaurant in Sydney, Australia.  However because I live in Florida, USA - it's not like I can just hop on down to Sydney whenever a dim sum craving hits.  Or at least not until I win a very large lottery!

So when I was traveling in San Francisco, I knew I needed to take advantage of the plethora of Asian residents and the proximity of a quality Chinatown for some authentic dim sum.  I researched all of the restaurants that were located in the city center.  (I was without a car and didn't want to Lyft or Uber my way to the far suburbs where some very notable dim sum restaurants are located.)  

I finally decided to try Great Eastern Restaurant.

When President Obama was in town, he had dim sum at Great Eastern.

And if a dim sum restaurant is good enough for President Obama, it is definitely good enough for me!

The restaurant is large with good, fast, efficient service.  The dim sum is ordered via paper menus like you would order sushi.  I like when restaurants have the carts of dim sum and you order off the cart, but as long as the dim sum tastes good I am OK with ordering off the menu.

I am a creature of habit when it comes to dim sum.  I tend to order the same things over and over again.  I choose to think of this as "Classic Lily" versus "Boring Lily."

I like to order hot tea, of course.

Barbecued pork buns - soft and fluffy with a sweet, zesty pork filling.

I ALWAYS order radish cakes - gelatinous slices, studded with radish or turnip or taro bits and tiny shrimp, which are pan-fried.  I also usually order some kind of dumpling or shu mei.  In this case, pork and chive panfried dumplings.

And I prefer soy sauce and red vinegar on my radish cakes.

In tribute to my Grandmother, I love steamed sticky rice wrapped in a leaf.  It usually contains chicken or pork and egg.

On this particular occasion, my eyes were bigger than my stomach.  I ordered pineapple buns - which in 97% of all cases, do NOT contain any pineapple at all.  Sometimes they are custard-filled and sometimes they are plain.  The name "pineapple bun" refers to the crunchy coating on top of the bun which is supposed to resemble the outside of a pineapple.  I know some places actually started serving these buns stuffed with pineapple jelly because they were probably sick of people complaining that the pineapple bun had no pineapple.

In dim sum, most orders contain 2-4 items - so I did not have the option to get just one pineapple bun.  My stomach surrendered and I took these 3 little darlings to go.  I ate them in my hotel room later that night when my stomach was in a happier state!

I very much enjoyed the dim sum at Great Eastern restaurant.  I may not be the President, but the waitstaff treated me very well.  It was affordable, tasty, authentic and delicious in a relaxed, lovely atmosphere.  It was very much a "Chinatown experience."

If you're looking for quality dim sum in Chinatown, San Francisco - check out Great Eastern!

Alice's Adventures in Boozy Land - The Boozy Tea at Anise Global Gastrobar - Tampa, FL

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

It is a rainy Sunday evening in Tampa, Florida.  As I drove home, I passed by a three car pile up.  The owners and passengers of the three cars standing without umbrellas in the pouring rain, were looking very unhappy.  

The "glass half full" bright side of the picture is that none of them looked hurt.  However standing in the heavy rain while staring at your mangled car is probably not the best way to spend a Sunday afternoon either.  I said a "thank you" to the universe that I made it home safe and sound.  

This weekend has been chock full of fun events, but I especially wanted to tell you about the "Boozy Tea" at Anise Global Gastrobar in Tampa, Florida.  

I love a proper afternoon tea.  My favorite tea room is Podunk in New York City.  So when I saw on Anise Global Gastrobar's Facebook page that they were planning an afternoon "tea" but with cocktails instead of "tea" and a gift bag for each participant, I knew I needed to sign up for tickets for this event!  (Who doesn't love a gift bag??) 

I also knew immediately who I wanted to attend the event with - Ms. Seminole Heights.  Now don't take it the wrong way - I'm not saying that an event titled "Boozy" made me think of Ms. Seminole Heights!  But Anise Global Gastrobar is a swank place (I love, love, love their decor).  So a leisurely afternoon of quality edibles, exotic cocktails and great conversation in a swanky place, that sounded like something right up Ms. Seminole Heights' alley.  So I asked her if she would be interested - and call me a psychic, but she was!

I've been trying to lead a healthier lifestyle on many levels.  I am trying to make sure that what I bring into my headspace and my stomach are quality products.  Instead of mindlessly eating crap food, I want it to be good quality and of good taste.  And I try my best to limit the portion size.  

I also decided I would try to give up alcohol for a year (for calories and health reasons not for addiction ones) but with the exception of a sailing trip I will be taking in November and I'd give myself a "free pass" if there was a really good cocktail event.  After 8 months of no drinking (except for a sip of a Caipirinha in Brazil and a couple of sips from friends' cocktails at new places- I have not had a "full glass" since January), I thought that the Boozy Tea would be a good "free pass."  

In addition to trying to eat and drink better, I have been trying to spend time with people who lead their lives from a place of optimism versus cynicism.  Those who see the glass (or tea cup) as half-full versus half-empty.  Those who see themselves as the Captain of their lives versus a victim.  

Like my collection of fitness DVDs that I hope will get me into shape through osmosis by sitting on my bookshelf, I hope that if I surround myself with quality, respectful people I can embody more of their positive spirit.  I feel like the people we surround ourselves with are just as important as the air we breathe and the food and liquids we eat and drink.  If you breathe in polluted air, day after day; your lungs will suffer from the pollution.  So if I spend the majority of my time with healthy, upbeat, respectful people- my hope is that I will embody their healthy, upbeat attitudes as well.  

Ms. Seminole Heights is one of those healthy, upbeat people.  No, her life is not perfect (no one has a perfect life, well maybe Oprah?); but she is not bitter, in denial, angry or a crying victim.  Or at least she doesn't appear so to me.  I find her to be positive and optimistic, but level-headed as well.  She sees the silver lining and the gray cloud - even-keeled I guess is how I see her.  And I find our conversations very thought-provoking and emotionally nourishing.  

I think it is good to step out of our own heads from time to time and see the world through another person's eyes.  Sometimes the key to having a better relationship with our day to day world is just changing the perspective.

So on a gray Sunday afternoon, I met Ms. Seminole Heights at Anise Global Gastrobar for their first "Boozy Tea" event.  In addition to the swank, chic surroundings - the staff working the "Boozy Tea" were in lovely dresses and hats.  It was like a high end, fancy Alice in Wonderland tea party.  It was the perfect touch of glamour.  

We sat at the bar while the staff put the finishing touches on the table.  The event would have four cocktails and a wide variety of savory and sweet edibles.  Some of the food was set before us on a three tier tray and other items would be brought to our table throughout the tea.  I felt very pampered by the very friendly and courteous waitstaff.

We started with Cocktail #1: "Mumm's Champagne Spritzer" - which I am renaming "Little Green Martian."  It is matcha tea, starfruit juice, ginger and GH Mumm Cordon Rouge champagne.

Mumm's Champagne Spritzer

Which by the way, as I type this I am in my living room with The Body Shop green tea tree oil face mask on.  Perhaps I am the Little Green Martian too!

Cocktail #1 was my favorite cocktail of the whole night.  The starfruit juice really hit the spot.  

Next, we were seated at our tables.  Take a look at this amazing three tier tray of deliciousness!  I have been to many terrific afternoon teas and sadly several not so good ones.  The Boozy Tea at Anise Global Gastrobar had one of the best food selections and food quality of any tea I have attended.  Everything was fresh and flavorful.

On the bottom tier, there was a smoked salmon pumpernickel crostini.  The salmon had a nice smoky, briny flavor to it with a lush white sauce that tasted of creme fraiche and a sprig of fresh dill.  It was fantastic.  Next to it on a cucumber slice is a lovely, fresh and not overly mayonnaise-y Chicken Waldorf salad.  At Anise, we not only had these plated appetizers, plus passed appetizers - but then they came back around several times with extras.  I had more of the chicken salad because it was so tasty.  There is also a cucumber sandwich with herbed cream cheese.  It was very fresh, crisp and the cream cheese was extra rich and lush.  (OK I had two of those too!)  And next to the sandwiches was a cinnamon sugar palmier - crisp, sweet, flaky and delicious.

On the middle tier: a deviled egg topped with perfectly cooked lobster.  Talk about luxury!  Two more cinnamon sugar palmiers.  Three zucchini parmesan mini madeleines (one of the best tasting items overall - and I did not say "no" when the waitstaff brought us another dish of five more madeleines hot out of the oven.)  The combination of zucchini with aged Parmesan was fantastic.  Then there was a huge seasonal fruit tart with pasty cream.  The crust was buttery and delicious.  The "creme patissiere" was light but velvety.  The fruit fantastic.  

On the top tier: blackberries, starfruit, chocolate dipped petit fours with jam filling and two of the moistest, most delicious blueberry scones.  I usually do not like scones because they tend to be dry, flavorless and crumbly.  But these scones were amazing - bright, big blueberries popping juicy deliciousness with each soft, moist bite.  When the waitstaff came around with a platter of more scones, I had to physically restrain myself.

The chocolate on the petit fours was so amazing.  I had to slow myself down to truly appreciate each chocolatey bite.  So divinely good!

In addition to the plated appetizers.  We were also given Rosemary Russian tea cookies.  These were the perfect combination of savory and sweet.

And served on a soup spoon was a savory, complex tasting tomato bisque with a grilled cheese crouton.  The grilled cheese crouton had an aged cheese flavor - perhaps Gouda?  

The tomato bisque with grilled cheese crouton was my favorite.  The zucchini parmesan madeleines my second favorite.  OK seriously there wasn't a bad bite in the batch.  I loved it all!!

Cocktail #2 was a Green Tea Sour - Jasmine Green Tea, Jameson whiskey and creme de peche.  This drink was strong but good!  I had to sip it very slowly!  Anise Global Gastrobar may want to consider smaller versions of their cocktails for the next Boozy Tea, because I was feeling pretty boozy by drink #2 and I purposely didn't fully finish any of the cocktails.  Bring a designated driver or call a taxi!  Drink responsibly!

Cocktail #3 was my 2nd favorite which was a surprise.  Now I am not the most sophisticated of people, so when the waitstaff put a tea cup with two little dried roses in it in front of me - I had a slight moment of social panic.  What was I supposed to do with this??  Seriously I would be the girl drinking from the finger bowl at a fancy dinner party.  Trust me, it would happen.

I decided not to do anything with the tea cup.  And then the waitstaff came out with steaming pots and filled our dried rose tea cups.  Ah-ha ... now it all made sense!  Cocktail # 3 was a Rose Oolong Toddy.

Now I am not a big oolong fan nor am I a big hot toddy fan, but wow this drink was great.  The fragrance was amazing.  It contains rose oolong tea, Jameson black barrel and honey.  It was smooth, soft and subtle.  And it made my stomach feel like it was getting a gentle hug from Brad Pitt.  Talk about a boozy, warm feeling!

Cocktail #4 wins for best looking drink of the Boozy Tea.  If you're a regular LilyOnTheLam.com reader (or viewer of my Instagram account @LilyOnTheLam), you will know that I have been boba-crazy lately at Naga Tea, Latte Luna and Kaleisia Tea Lounge.  

Well Cocktail #4 is Thai Tea - but with Thai Tea, Jameson Caskmates and black boba pearls.  I think there was either Star Anise, Cardamom or Chinese Five Spice in it as well.  It was lighter than traditional Thai Tea - which I appreciated.  I hate when Thai Tea is too cloyingly sweet.  But in true Lily fashion, I enjoyed slurping up the black boba tapioca pearls.

The Anise Global Gastrobar waitstaff came around with platters and platters of extras of each of the plated appetizers.  No one left hungry.  I was extremely happily satisfied with both the food and cocktails!

In addition to the quality food and high end cocktails, Ms. Seminole Heights and I had a quality conversation on many different topics - life, personal histories, shared philosophies, addiction, denial, personal growth ... Not only did our afternoon tea come with adult beverages, we shared interesting adult, intelligent conversation topics as well.  It was the perfect way to spend a rainy Sunday afternoon.

I hope Anise Global Gastrobar does more events like this in the future.  (Watch their Facebook page, where they post their events.)  The quality and quantity of the food and cocktails was well worth the ticket price per person.  It was a high-end, incredibly tasty spread.  I enjoyed every single morsel.

And to top it off, at the end of the event we were given a tea cup and saucer and a gift bag.  In the gift bag was either a chai soap or sugar face scrub.  (Ms. Seminole Heights and I each received the chai soap) and a vanilla bean macaron with the most amazing chocolate filling (an Earl Grey ganache).  Which I may have possibly greedily eaten on the drive home.    

Regularly, Anise Global Gastrobar serves a wide variety of gourmet small plates.  I love their steamed bao buns and their dessert sweet buns.  But being a Midwesterner at heart, I also love their amazing Tater Tots.  

If you're a regular LilyOnTheLam.com reader you will know that in one of my previous posts about "dueling Tater Tots" I chose Anise Global Gastrobar's tots over some pretty amazing Nashville tater tots.  There is plenty of reason to check out Anise Global Gastrobar whether its for lunch, dinner or a special event like their Boozy Tea.

I am striving to see my world as a "tea cup half full" versus "tea cup half empty" place.  The delicious cocktails and amazing food at Anise Global Gastrobar's Boozy Tea definitely filled my belly and soul with happiness.  Thank you, Anise!

And to you all, as always, thank you for reading! 

You Had Me At Sticky Buns

Happy Friday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

And if you're reading this on a day other than Friday, Happy (Insert Day here) to you!

I am ashamed to admit than in the eleven plus years I have lived in Florida, I have spent more time exploring places outside of Florida than inside the state.  For example:  I drive through Bradenton all the time to go to Sarasota but I never stop to actually experience Bradenton.

So a couple weeks ago, I decided to rectify that.  I spent a lovely afternoon visiting various places in Bradenton and then on my way out of town, I spotted THIS sign ...

Latte Luna - Home of the Ham and Cheese Sticky Buns.

WHAT??

WHAT IS A HAM AND CHEESE STICKY BUN?

AND WHY IS IT NOT IN MY BELLY?

I quickly pulled over.  

An investigation needed to be made.  

And NOW.

Latte Luna is a lovely coffee lounge.  If I lived in Bradenton, I would be there all the time.  It is a large house with a multitude of rooms.  There is one room with video games and three other main rooms.  There were all ages of guests when I was there.  

Main counter to order your drinks and food

An older man, who I am pretty sure was Santa Claus on vacation, sat at the table across from me.  He had also ordered the ham and cheese sticky buns before I did.  He gave me his review of them while I waited for my order of boba tea and sticky buns.  Thanks Santa - please don't bring me another lump of coal this year.

Santa said the sticky buns were sweet, savory, a bit different but good.  

Who am I to argue with Santa Claus?  

My order arrived ...

Iced tea with passion-fruit flavored boba!

My iced tea was fantastic.  I have never had flavored boba in my tea before.  I'm used to the flavorless regular black boba.  Each tiny, clear, gelatinous ball exploded with a passionfruit gelee when popped in my mouth.  DELICIOUS!

The ham and cheese sticky buns were mini Hawaiian rolls with ham, cheese, mustard, some sort of sugary glaze and poppy seeds.  I liked them a lot but they were a bit too mustardy for me.  I would like to try these again without the mustard.  But overall they were hearty and satisfied my need for combination foods of savory and sweet.  Well done, Latte Luna!

I love stumbling upon new places.  This discovery was totally random and extremely fantastic.  I will definitely back to Latte Luna in the future!  

What is your favorite coffee house or tea room?  Tell me in the comments section!
  

Jesus Is A Biscuit

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

I have a massive bout of cabin fever lately.  Since for my "day job" I work from home, every now and again I feel the need to be out and about amongst "the people."  So for the past several nights I have been writing from coffee and tea houses around Tampa Bay.  Sunday night was Naga Tea near USF.  Monday night was DI Coffee Bar (Click on their Facebook link here).  Tuesday night was going to be Blind Tiger Cafe in Ybor City, but I ended up at the  much less impressive but large venue Starbucks.  Perhaps you have heard of it?  But don't fear Blind Tiger - I love, love, love your coffee drinks and atmosphere so I will be back soon.

Of course karma kicked me in the teeth for not supporting a fine local business like Blind Tiger Cafe.  About 2 minutes after I sat down at my table - getting myself all situated - plugged in my ancient MacBook Air, charging my cell phone, attaching my external hard drive because I don't have enough memory on the internal hard drive ... I basically looked like I was setting up a command center at Starbucks.  

After I got all "comfortable" with my various cords tethering me to the wall and lap top, a guy walks up to me and makes a sour face.  (Compliments on your resting bitch face, sir!)  On the table next to me is 3 napkins and the paper wrapper to a straw.  Now on my table is a venti cappuccino - hot coffee and a couple napkins.  There is no plastic straw in my hot coffee.  Resting bitch face scowls at me, points to the 3 napkins and paper straw wrapper and says "Are these yours?"

I wanted to say "Seriously?  Do you think I deposit my trash amongst the Starbucks tables like some sort of rabid badger marking my territory?  I mean, come ON!"  But no, I just smiled sweetly and said "Um, no" in a tone that implied that I thought that Resting Bitch Face might be mentally challenged.  

RBF cleared off the table by moving the 3 napkins and paper straw wrapper to another table.  (Way to mark your territory, RBF!)  Then he plopped down basically 2 feet away from me and has spent a ridiculous amount of time making loud slurping sounds as he tries to suck up nonexistent fluids from his empty plastic Starbucks cup.

I should have gone to Blind Tiger Cafe and now Jesus is punishing me ... sigh.  Karmic retribution, party of one.

While this blog post will appear on September 24, 2015, I actually wrote this on September 22nd.  (Blog magic!)  According to my Facebook, today is "Buddha's Return From Heaven Day."  To which I have to first say, none of you bastards got me a Hallmark card for this occasion.  HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME!

I frankly had never heard of Buddha's Return from Heaven Day.  I hoped that the occasion would be marked with ice cream cake.  It seems appropriate, right?  Again, according to the Facebook post I was reading - supposedly if you engage in a virtuous action on Buddha's Return from Heaven Day, the act becomes especially powerful and our merit greatly increases.  So on this Buddha's Return From Heaven Day, I am choosing not to smack Resting Bitch Face in the head.  And in return, I think I should win a billion dollar lottery.  Law of attraction, people!  Cosmic ATM.  Winner, winner, karmic dinner!  Let's make this happen!

It was interesting to hear that my good acts would be rewarded on this day, but I am pragmatic enough to know that in this life I need to make my own magic.  And by magic, I mean biscuits.

Yes, you heard me.  Biscuits.

My younger sister lives in Chicago and took me for brunch at a place called "Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits."  Which is the best name for a restaurant EVER.  It has pie.  It has biscuits. What more do you need?  Because I have self-diagnosed early onset Alzheimer's (I'm only 947 years old!), for some reason my neural pathways think the name of the restaurant is "Faster Pussycat, Kill Kill and Biscuits."  (A bastardization of the name of a 1965 movie.)  Sigh.  It's a wonder I can tie my own shoes.

I remember sitting in front of my sister with a giant biscuit on my plate and love in my heart, feeling sad that Tampa Bay did not have a great biscuit restaurant.  Well Tampa has come through for me once again.  I have found a restaurant in Seminole Heights (Tampa), Florida that has better biscuits than Bang Bang Pie and Biscuits- which is a huge compliment because Bang Bang's biscuits and pie are pretty crazy delicious.

In a massive fit of cabin fever, after several agonizing conference calls I decided my Buddha reward was to have an early dinner at Fodder and Shine restaurant in Seminole Heights.  I love Seminole Heights and the recent surge of new fabulous places popping up left and right has only made me love it more.  (Side note:  my beloved Cleanse Apothecary is moving locations November 1, 2015 next to the hip mecca "Rooster and the Till Restaurant" in Seminole Heights.  Check them out!)  

As I am on month 8 of a 13 month sobriety goal, I could not indulge in the fantastic array of cocktails at Fodder and Shine.  So I made due with unsweetened iced tea in a mason jar.  (Is there a better vessel for my beverage?  NO.)

I already knew what I was ordering before I arrived.  The "Cornmeal Fried Chicken Biscuit" which is a thin slice of cornmeal breaded chicken on a "Cathead Biscuit" with house made jam and mahonesa.  Which I later discovered is just a fancy way of saying mayonnaise!  It was a very lovely mayonnaise.  This wasn't Hellman's out of a jar, people!  

I said a quick prayer that a "Cathead Biscuit" does not contain actual cat heads.  (Southern lore says the name came about because the biscuits are the side of a cat's head.  And I will admit the biscuits are super huge.)  At $6 for this giant biscuit with fried chicken, I thought I was getting a tremendous bargain!

Fodder and Shine Fried Chicken Biscuit

I love Southern side dishes, so I also ordered the bacon braised greens.  I find that it's the apple cider vinegar that really sets proper greens apart.  Fodder and Shine's greens were al dente and not cooked to death like most places.  I would have liked maybe about 30 seconds more of cooking, but I quickly became accustomed to their greens and gobbled them up with their housemade hot sauce and lemon juice concoction.

Seasonal bacon-braised greens

Housemade hot sauce and preserved lemon juice - tastiness!

Fodder and Shine does not currently sell these sauces.  They make them only for use in the restaurant.  I hope in the future this will change.  On this particular occasion, I had a very large purse with me.  Like a middle school shoplifter, I contemplated how many bottles of sauce I could smuggle into my purse.  But then I weighed that thought against never having access to the hearty, flaky, buttery, amazing deliciousness of Fodder and Shine's Cathead Biscuits ... and I decided not to pursue a life of crime.  What a waste of a big purse.  Sigh.

In addition to the fried chicken biscuit and the bacon-braised greens, I also had the Cheddar Cheese Sofkee.  I had never heard of "sofkee" before but the menu description said "Florida native porridge of fermented rice grits, cheddar, cream and butter."  Now the menu could have said "Your shoe with cheddar, cream and butter" and I would have said "Yes, let's order that."  I was all aboard the sofkee train!  

For an extra dollar, you can have your sofkee topped with bacon tomato gravy.  Trust me, it is worth spending the extra dollar.  The "bacon tomato gravy" is like a bright, flavorful, freshly made tomato sauce.  It reminded me of trips to Tuscany.  Get it.  Do it. 

Sofkee with bacon tomato gravy

Iced tea in mason jars

I am a rabid fan of the reality television competition show RuPaul's Drag Race.  I am an even more rabid fan of Floridian drag queen Latrice Royale.  On the show, Latrice Royale said his now infamous catchphrase: "Jesus is a biscuit.  Let Him sop you up!"  (Order Latrice's catchphrase t-shirt here!)  Because of my love for Latrice Royale and also love of carbs, my Instagram feed is usually rife with biscuits of all kinds.  The other day, THIS fabulous picture popped up ...

  
I have to say that all of the food at Fodder and Shine was great, but their Cathead biscuit puts all other biscuits to shame.  It is THAT good.  I am putting it out to the universe, that I want to have biscuits at Fodder and Shine with Latrice Royale.  (Law of Attraction, The Secret, Magic Eight Ball, Kickstarter campaign ... whatever it takes, let's make this happen!)

Now as if my delicious Southern meal wasn't enough, I just could not leave Fodder and Shine without trying their Moon Pie Trifle.  (Who doesn't love a good Moon Pie?)  The menu description says it is house made marshmallow fluff, graham cracker crumble and a Cheerwine (soda)-chocolate ganache.  

This dessert was very good - it truly had all the flavors of a fresh Moon Pie.  But it was crazy rich with so much marshmallow fluff.  Now my inner sugar lover is screaming "Shut up, there can never be TOO MUCH marshmallow fluff!"  But trust me, it was very rich and very sweet.  I would have served this trifle with a couple Honey Graham crackers on the side.  Spreading this intoxicating mixture on the crackers would have cut some of the rich sweetness and hey, everybody loves an interactive dessert.  (Or is that just me?)

Now beyond the food - I love the chill, modern decor of Fodder and Shine.  My server was super courteous and attentive.  Better than the service at higher end restaurants, so I especially appreciated the quality of care shown.  The menu had items of various prices.  Some items are surprisingly inexpensive and other items are comparable to other Seminole Heights restaurants.   

I would definitely return (and return and return) to Fodder and Shine restaurant in Seminole Heights, Florida.  If you love a good biscuit or quality Southern food, check them out!
  
P.S. For more tales of biscuits, check out my ham and pimento cheese biscuit at DI Coffee Bar in Tampa, Florida!
     

Greek Salads and Heartbreak

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Fourth blog post in a row after my summer hiatus!  I've been indulging my love for all things theater in Tampa Bay.  I recently saw "Almost An Evening" at Jobsite Theater at the Straz Center in Tampa, Florida.

The show is three mini plays from Ethan Coen, one half of the Coen Brothers better known for their films like "Fargo" and "The Big Lebowski."  One of my sister's classmates appeared in a Coen Brothers movie ("A Serious Man") so basically that makes me 2 degrees removed from being a Hollywood star, right?  OK maybe not.

"Almost An Evening" is playing at Jobsite until October 4, 2015.  While the final of the three mini plays was my favorite, the first one was the most reminiscent of my day to day life.  No spoilers so I won't explain further than that!

I then also went to the preview night of "Intimate Apparel" at American Stage Theater in St. Petersburg, Florida.  I believe the show runs until September 30, 2015 but with American Stage's new website it is difficult to tell.  

The show was very good, but it was also heartbreaking.  I like to think that there is some great reward for being hard-working and virtuous, but sometimes the reward for being a hard worker is just getting more work.  Perhaps building the emotional fortitude to withstand any hardship is the "reward" you receive from standing strong against the storms of fate and bad luck.  But between you and me, I'd like a billion dollar lottery win instead.  

The show put me in a sad mood.  It tugged on all my heartstrings.  I had a late dinner of a gyro Greek salad at Acropolis Greek Taverna on Central Ave.  in St. Pete.  I also had a side of Greek potatoes.  If you are familiar with Tampa Bay Greek salads, you will know that we hide a scoop of potato salad inside our Greek salads.  Some people find this repulsive (My little sister comes to mind!), but I never turn away from extra carbs!  

Anyway, you may question why I would get a side of Greek potatoes when there is already a scoop of potato salad in my Greek salad.  You can question it.  And I might smack you in the head.  So let's see ... are you still questioning?

It's impossible to feel down with a giant gyro Greek salad in front of you.  Trust me.

I also had Tirokafteri (feta cheese dip with olive oil and chopped jalapeños) with pita.  Spicy goodness.  My waiter said that the tirokafteri on a bagel with smoked salmon is heaven.  Unfortunately I forgot to bring bagels and smoked salmon in my cute little copper clutch purse from Top Shop Chicago.

I am also going to see the musical "Once" at the Straz Center.  It didn't make the cut during my last Broadway visit.  Then in October, I will be seeing "Silence the Musical" - a musical parody of Silence of the Lambs at Jobsite Theatre.  Now that "Hannibal" was cancelled on NBC, I have to get my Hannibal Lecter fix elsewhere.  I am very much looking forward to this parody!  

Normally I would spend a autumn trip back to Broadway ... I am dying just a little inside that I won't see Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalfe in the stage version of Stephen King's "Misery."  However I have other travel adventures vying for my travel budget, so hopefully someone I know will see the show so that I can live vicariously through them!

As always, thank you for reading!

   

Top Tampa Recommendations and More- September 2015

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

I am gearing up for my next round of travel adventures around the world.  I've basically been using it as a HUGE excuse to shop ... and shop HARD.  I have a whole new wardrobe of the cutest dresses EVER.  

For someone who works from home most of the time (in Old Navy tank tops and yoga pants, no less), I now have a ridiculously chic wardrobe.  I like to ask people out to lunch so I can show up in a power dress and feel justified in having made the purchase.  

My poor friend, the Ohio Buckeye Bandit, has had to deal with me preening, twirling and prancing any time we meet for a work week lunch.  I'm waiting for the day she reaches over and just slaps me in the head.  But until then, I will TWIRL, TWIRL, POSE AND TWIRL!

Because I have spent more time shopping than blogging, I have started accumulating a bunch of new favorite places in Tampa Bay and Orlando that all desperately deserve their own individual blog posts - but my procrastination reigns supreme, so I thought I'd put a bunch of them into one blog post as my September 2015 "Top Tampa Recommendations and More."  (The "more" being Orlando - ha ha!)

Recommendation #1:  Naga Tea:

My new addiction/obsession is an adorable Asian-style tea house near USF called Naga Tea.  I am actually sitting at Naga Tea writing this blog post.  I am Queen of the Naga Tea's Grapefruit Green Tea with Small Boba and 25% sweetness.  They might as well just call it "The Lily."  

Naga Tea - my addiction

Actually when I ordered my drink this evening, the very nice clerk asked my name and then he said "Oh yeah Lily, that's right."  I said "Oh no, I come here too often if you remember my name."  He replied: "No, you need to come here MORE."  Salesmanship in action!

The pick up counter at Naga Tea

The tea is delicious.  The staff are super courteous.  The patrons are chill and laid back.  The shop itself is modern with a selection of games for those who like a little Cards Against Humanity with their boba tea.  (Side note: Ms. Concert Fan turned me on to "Cards Against Humanity" - I both love it and am horrified by it!)

Most of the people I see at Naga Tea are college students, so perhaps I am vicariously reliving my youth while I slurp down my grapefruit and boba-spiked green tea.  But here's the major difference between myself now and myself in college - I have money and a cool car now.  Back then, I had no car, no money.  So hooray for aging.  Ha!

Recommendation #2:  Generation Food Court in Seminole Heights, FL

The good folks who brought you The World's Largest Food Truck Rally 1, 2 and 3 (and #4 on Halloween 2015) have done it AGAIN!  Generation Food Truck has turned the lot next to Red Star Bar into a daily revolving food truck court. called "Generation Food Court."  Can we just say genius?  

I first tried them out when they did the "Taste of Asia" festival with all Asian cuisine food trucks.  I will be traveling to the Philippines soon, so I was excited to have a sampler platter from the fresh and delicious "Flip'n Tasty" food truck.  My friends sampled from the Pao Truck and the Pho Truck (their Thai tea was AMAZING).  

Taste of Asia - Generation Food Court 1

Taste of Asia - Generation Food Court 2 

Flip'n Tasty Food Truck - check them out!

$6 for the sampler - great deal and the Puto steamed cake ROCKED

My Sarap Sampler - delicious, delicious!

The Pancit Noodles from the Pao Truck

Amazing Thai Tea from the Pho Truck

Recommendation #3:  Grape Leaf Express - Brandon, FL 

I love, love, love Lebanese food.  One day I hope to travel to Lebanon.  I have a deep appreciation for food from Egypt, Turkey, Greece and Lebanon.  The whole hybrid Mediterranean-Middle Eastern cuisine is my favorite in the whole world.  About six years ago, I traveled all around Egypt.  My first meal in Egypt literally felt like I was coming home.  Like I was eating home cooking from another lifetime.  I realize that may sound new age kooky, but that's what I felt.

I stumbled upon the Grape Leaf Express once before I actually dined there.  My friends Mr. and Mrs. Bento Box of Woodbury, Minnesota had posted their daughter's lunch online.  I can't remember if it was ramen or udon, but whatever it was I had an incredibly strong desire for a big bowl of udon noodles.  

I wanted to try a new place, so I found  a review for Tokai Japanese Restaurant in Brandon, Florida.  I found the udon to be decent and the service to be extremely friendly.  Next door was a Lebanese restaurant called "Grape Leaf Express."  As I love Lebanese food, I made a mental note to check it out some time in the future.

At least 2 months went by when I was at the dentist.  I had cracked a tooth and needed to find a new dentist.  Now you may be asking "what does your new dentist have to do with Lebanese food?"  Great question!  The dentist's dental partner is Lebanese and she told me that her favorite Lebanese food in the Tampa Bay area is Grape Leaf Express!  Now I knew the universe was telling me that I had to quit procrastinating and try this Lebanese restaurant!

I am a Greek salad with gyro meat addict.  I seriously have had three in the past two weeks (one from my favorite Tarpon Springs restaurant Dimitri's on the Water, one from the Acropolis Greek Taverna in Ybor City and one from the Acropolis Greek Taverna in St. Petersburg, FL).  So I contemplated NOT getting a gyro salad at Grape Leaf Express, but then I decided to put a twist on it.  At Grape Leaf Express you can have gyro meat on any of their salads, so I ordered the fattoush salad with gyro meat on it.  I also ordered hummus with pita and of course a piece of baklava for dessert.

If you're not familiar with a fattoush salad - it is a Middle Eastern chopped salad with fresh herbs and toasted pita chips.  It is best when fresh with a tangy citrus dressing and a heavy handed amount of parsley.  I love it when it's done right.  And at Grape Leaf Express, they do it right.  It was probably one of the best fattoush salads I have ever had.  The hummus was tasty too - rich, creamy with a delicious amount of tahini.  The baklava was so fresh, but not drowning in honey. It reminded me of eating baklava on the streets of Istanbul.

My dentist said it was the best Lebanese in Tampa and I think she's right.  It's also inexpensive.  You order at a counter and then pick up your food (to eat at the restaurant or for take away) as it's made in front of your eyes.  Casual but so fresh and delicious.  I will definitely be visiting Grape Leaf Express again in the future!

The decor was modern.  Service was extremely polite and friendly.  A steady flow of customers came in - some to eat in, many to take away.  It seems Grape Leaf Express is popular with more than just my dentist!

Grape Leaf Express - order at the counter

Gyro meat on a fantastically fresh fattoush salad

Hummus and pita

So delicious this baklava is INSANELY GOOD

Recommendation #4: MD Oriental Market - Brandon, FL

While you're at Grape Leaf Express, you need to walk a few doors down and visit MD Oriental Market.  They have a nice produce selection (I love any place where I can get fresh dragon fruit!).  They also have a nice deli section with roast duck and other delights.  Fortune Star bakery (my favorite local Asian bakery) supplies their bakery counter.  They also have a nice seafood area.  

My heart will always be loyal to my beloved Oceanic Asian Market, but MD Oriental Market has a great processed food selection.  I am always finding fun candy and cookies to send to my friends' children.  Also, this is where I stumbled upon "Lonely God" snacks.  Which I am pretty sure are bok choy flavored chips.  I would like to think that my own personal Jesus is not lonely, but if He is I hope that bok choy chips make him feel a little less lonely.

I don't know what snow fungus is but I am comforted to know that if I wanted it
in my instant cereal, that I could find it at MD Oriental Market

Lonely God Crackers - and ON SALE TOO

I have no idea what these are but I am sending them to my friends' kids

If the country of Taiwan was a bag of Starburst-like candy, they would be called TAIWANG!

I also have no idea what these are but I am sending these to my friends' kids

I may have bought this bag of "what looks like animal crackers" to share
with my dad who appreciates a good cookie like I do

Any store with Hello Kitty candy is good with me!

I ate Durian Ice Cream in Malaysia - it tasted like FEET.  But in case
I want to relive that experience, I can buy a whole frozen durian at MD Oriental Market!

Recommendation #5 and #6:  Fortune Star Asian Bakery - Tampa, FL and Sun Pearl Bakery - Orlando, FL

As I mentioned, my favorite Asian bakery in Tampa Bay is Fortune Star.  

    
I am a sucker for their coconut topped buttercream buns - fluffy football shaped buns with a line of the most exquisite cream filling.  

They also sell large, moist steamed cupcakes.  I love to tear them open and fill them with sliced strawberries and whipped cream.  Instant strawberry shortcake!  They have started selling barbecue pork and also pork and vegetable steamed buns - 6 fat buns for $5.95.  They are so good and so fresh!

6 for $5.95 at Fortune Star - great for a filling, inexpensive lunch for 2-4 people!

The pork and vegetable steamed bun! So good!

My favorite Asian bakery in Orlando, Florida is Sun Pearl Bakery.  When I was five years old, my mother bought me a bread roll exquisitely shaped like a small crab in Taipei, Taiwan.  I believe that was the start of my love for carbs in animal shapes!  At Sun Pearl Bakery (which has been newly remodeled), you can get your carbs in a multitude of shapes - fish, raccoon, pig!  

Newly remodeled and fabulous!

Raccoon Buns

Pig Bun, Fish Bun and a Salted Cheesecake Cake Stick!

The signs say "Russian Bread" which is confusing for an Asian Bakery
but I took this picture for my dad who is fluent in Russian

Look at all these carb-y, starchy, sugary wonderfulness!

Pineapple pastry in cute little wrappers!

My inner child loves every bit of Sun Pearl Bakery!  Also near Sun Pearl is an "89 cent Houseware Store" for those who think the Dollar Stores are too expensive!  After all of my clothes shopping sprees, I may have to start shopping at the 89 cent store!

I love discovering fun new places in Florida.  I hope you check out some of these places and then tell me what you think of them in the comments section!

As always, thank you for reading!

P.S.  It is this crazy cat's 3rd birthday - I love you, Chibby!