Loopy Again: My New Snack Obsession (Day One)

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

If you didn't get a chance to check out yesterday's post about helping rebuild Cephas' Hot Shop in Ybor City (Tampa), Florida - please take a moment to read it.  (Thank you!)

Happy Saturday!  I hope your weekend is going well.  Mine is social event central- lots of fun activities with lots of amazing people!  Even though it is Saturday, I am going to declare it Wednesday as in my "New Product Wednesday" blog posts where I review products that are new or new to me.  

When I was in Virginia visiting "The First Lady of Lynchburg," I enviously noticed that she belonged to many "box of the month" subscription services.  Boxes of goodies and fun products arriving on your doorstep every month?  It's like Christmas every month!  When I returned from Virginia, I started researching "box of the month" subscriptions and was shocked to learn that there are hundreds, maybe thousands even of these box subscriptions - socks of the month, fruit of the month, vacation of the month ... who knew?  I was mesmerized by all the options! 

My sister Squidge has relocated from Minneapolis to Chicago for a new job.  I like Chicago a lot but I don't care for the cold, windy winters!  However in support of Squidge's new move and new home city, I have sent her two "box of the month" subscriptions.  One is the Japanese candy gift box Skoshbox; which I will review in a later blog post.  The other is Naturebox where you pick 5 treats to have mailed to you each month.

Side Note:  I'm thinking of starting a Kickstarter donation campaign to fund my new business "CatBox" - where for an annual fee, I'll send you pictures of some of my 1200 cats each month.  Who could resist pictures like this?

This cat was so bored listening to my work conference call that he flipped over on his back.

After ordering a Skoshbox subscription for my sister, I decided my step-dad needed a subscription too.  Then I thought the two little donut-loving stars of my 400th Blog Post also needed a monthly box of Japanese candy to share.  I received the CUTEST picture of them extremely happy with their box of candy!  

My sister received news of her NatureBox subscription first because a gift subscription notice is emailed to the recipient and they can then choose five products for their first NatureBox.  Squidge was so excited by this gift and said there were so many good "natural" snack choices.  

Well as much as I like giving gifts, I also like RECEIVING gifts - and in an impulsive mood, I ordered my own six month NatureBox subscription.  (As if I need more snacks in the house!)

My first box arrived rather quickly and I enjoyed all of my items, but one of the snacks in particular has set off a new SNACK OBSESSION.  It is NatureBox's Salt and Pepper Lentil Loops.  

Now I must say I have been a fan of "all things in LOOP form" since I was a small child.  (Check out my blog post on my recipe for Loopy Vodka cupcakes!)  So call a snack food "Loops" and I am all over it.  But LENTIL loops?  Really?  Could they be any good?

  
In a word:  "Freaking YES!"  These salt and pepper lentil loops are savory, spicy, tangy, crisp, crunchy and absolutely addictive!  I've already selected the five items for my next month's NatureBox and they are ALL these darn tasty treats.  Yes, five bags of lentil loops are headed my way in the next delivery.  Each bag has three servings that are 130 calories.  It is very difficult to stop eating these delicious, spicy loops o' lentil and potato.  I'm going to have to hire a security guard to keep me away from my pantry once these delicious morsels arrive!

If you're looking for a good gift idea or a great snack source, check out NatureBox.com and these yum-a-licious lentil loops!  

P.S. I was not compensated for this blog post.  However, if you want me to get some freebies too, sign up for NatureBox at this link and I'll get referral credits!

Please Donate - My Colon Needs Your Help!

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

If you are a long-time reader, you may remember my posts about "The Guru of My Colon" Cephas Gilbert and his Cephas' Hot Shop in Ybor City, Tampa, Florida.  If you have not read these posts, check them out here:  

Urban Chickens, Aloe Shakes and the Guru of My Colon

I am not an urban drug lord!

I am not an urban drug lord! Part 2

I have been going to Cephas for YEARS after the wicked paramour Reymundo the Truth Dodger introduced me.  His fresh aloe shakes, fresh coconut juice and tamarind juice drinks kept my much abused body feeling somewhat normal.  And his Jamaican food is AMAZING.  

Unfortunately Cephas' Hot Shop has been shut down because it needs kitchen improvements to sustain a food license, according to Creative Loafing Tampa.  A GoFundMe page has been set up on behalf of Cephas to raise the $15,000 needed for improvements.  I am donating because Cephas is a local fixture of the colorful characters of the Ybor City scene - and also because my colon needs more of his aloe shakes!  

If you like reading LilyOnTheLam or if you like my colon or if you like supporting a good cause, I'd ask you to please donate to Cephas' Hot Shop Rebuilding GoFundMe page.  I am going to and I hope you will too!  

This Cat Hopes You Donate!

Ease On Down This Road - The Wiz - American Stage in The Park

Happy Monday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

I hope everyone had a great weekend!  Mine was terrific.  I volunteered on Friday and Sunday, which made for a somewhat tasky weekend but I made sure my Saturday was jam-packed with FUN, FUN, FUN to compensate.  

My Saturday might as well have been called "All of Lily's Favorite Things and Bagpipes too!"  The weather was gorgeous, top down convertible time and I took full advantage!    

I first started out my fantastic Saturday, by heading over to Seminole Heights. Florida.  I was on a shopping mission!  Cleanse Apothecary Bath and Body Boutique was having a weekend shopping promotion event.  They carry two product lines from my home state of Minnesota, so I get homesick whenever I visit!  The owners are fabulous.  I love supporting small businesses.  I also love that for they were serving a blood orange, Fresca & tequila blend for the special event.  (Fresca + Tequila = Happy Lily.)

From Seminole Heights it was over to Cephas Hot Shop in Ybor City for a tamarind drink and an aloe shake with freshly machete-d coconut water.  Tamarind supposedly helps cleanse your liver, so chasing tequila with tamarind maybe zeroed out the effect?  There were five newbies trying the bitter but gastro-intestinally effective aloe shake.  It's like dinner theater (or perhaps Fear Factor) watching the newbies drink aloe shakes!  (Read more about Cephas - the "Guru of My Colon" here.)

We had lunch at the Acropolis Greek Taverna in Ybor City.  My favorite is the Acropolis Salad - a Greek salad with Gyro Meat slices.  A little known fact, it is a Tampa tradition to hide a scoop of potato salad in Greek salads.  I know this may sound gross to some, but it is highly addictive.  Now when I have a Greek salad anywhere else in the country, I look in vain for some hidden potato salad.  Once in Las Vegas, a Tampa friend ordered a side of potato salad with her Greek salad because she said "Otherwise it's just not the same!"  The paramour had the Pastitso which I consider to be like a Greek lasagna - ground beef, pasta and a béchamel sauce.    

If we had had time, I would have loved to be having Greek food in the Greek sponge docks in Tarpon Springs, Florida.  My favorite restaurant there is Dimitri's On The Water.  However Ybor City is a heck of a lot closer to my house than Tarpon Springs, so when I get a Greek food craving I usually go to the Acropolis.    

We also had drinks at The Independent Bar and Cafe in Seminole Heights.  I love, love, love The Independent.  If you're looking for a laid back place to have a beer, this is it.  I love sitting on their patio.  Often there is live music and always there is a fun crowd.  

Although I was experiencing total Murphy's Law there on Saturday.  If I go to The Independent with female friends, the crowd is always couples or families.  But if I go there with a guy, then the place is crowded with good-looking MEN, MEN, MEN!  Saturday was no exception.  There was a large table of adorable military men who were rather appreciative of my shorts and my 4 inch summer heels.  Once again it's either feast or famine in my world when it comes to single men!

At The Independent, I had my favorite Zombie Killer Cherry Cyser.  Because I think I am secretly illiterate, I always thought this was a cherry cider beer.  Um no - it's an apple-honey wine with cherry juice added.  And the only reason I know that is because I read it on the picture I took.  When the bottle is in front of me, I am too busy drinking it to read the label!  Needless to say it is super yummy no matter what is in it!

It was time to bid Date #1 goodbye and turn to Date #2.  I was off to St. Pete to Sylvia's "Queen of Soul Food" Restaurant.  If you haven't been, you MUST go.  (Read my review of Sylvia's here.)  

My "Date #2" was actually me taking my friend "Ms. Kentucky" out for a belated birthday evening.  We were going to have a picnic dinner while we watched American Stage Theatre's production of the musical "The Wiz" held in the park at Demen's Landing.  This is located next to the water in St. Petersburg and is just an ideal, tranquil spot.  

Last time I saw American Stage Theatre in the Park, there was a family next to us that brought fried chicken and champagne.  I had Picnic Envy!  So this year I knew I was bringing fried chicken.  

Not trying to promote any racial stereotypes here, but knowing Ms. Kentucky had yet to try Sylvia's soul food - I thought a soul food picnic for The Wiz musical was a good theme meal.  Is that racially offensive?  It's hard to know where to draw the line.  

    
We had fried chicken, collard greens, mac & cheese, potato salad, fresh fruit - and for dessert - Sylvia's awesome coconut cake.  About a dozen middle school girls wearing Emerging Youth Leaders t-shirts were sitting next to us with giant bags of M&Ms and Cheetos.  They gave us an appreciative nod at our chicken picnic.  

Now normally sitting next to a dozen rambunctious young girls at "the theater" would be highly annoying - but these girls were so funny and adorable.  They were just loving life, full of smiles and spunk.  They chatted with us and I just wanted to make them all honorary little sisters.

American Stage Theatre's version of The Wiz was awesome. Their annual show in the park is always a big success and so worth attending!  Because I have been volunteering at a local performing arts theater, I have had the pleasure of getting to know the local Tampa acting community.  In "The Wiz," I knew the Director and two of the actors personally.  Plus "The Cowardly Lion" and the piano player have performed a local cabaret act that I have seen several times.  If you are in or near St. Petersburg, Florida, I highly recommend going to see "The Wiz."  It's a great event for singles, couples, families … an all around good night.

St. Petersburg was hopping when we went to see The Wiz.  It was also the Blues Festival, the Rowdies Soccer Game, the Symphony and the Ziggy Marley concert.  Downtown St. Pete was packed with lots of people having a great time!  The Rowdies game had the UK bagpipe band "Red Hot Chili Pipers" playing a post-game concert.  

Because it's an outdoor stadium, we caught a good chunk of the concert for free.  Trust me, you have not lived until you have heard the Red Hot Chili Pipers doing a bag pipe version of Journey's "Don't Stop Believin'."  If you have one goal for 2014, this should be it.  

We then hit the local Starbucks as the Stephen "Ziggy" Marley concert was letting out.  I was feeling bland not wearing rasta colors or having dreadlocks!  But the concert goers were mellow and friendly.  

The perfect Saturday ended with a walk along the water.  The weather was perfect - not too hot, not too cold with an almost full moon dancing off the water as we walked along the shoreline.    

I highly recommend all the places I mentioned in this blog post if you are in or visiting the Tampa Bay area.  I hope you had a Perfect Weekend too - and as always, thank you for reading!

Urban Chickens, Aloe Shakes and the Guru of My Colon

September 2014 Update:  Cephas' Hot Shop is currently closed - please support his rebuilding efforts via a GoFundMePage. 

September 2013 Update - Cephas has changed his website link to: CephasHotShop.com - check it out today!

Before I start today's Lily on the Lam blog post, I wanted to wish my sister Squidge a very happy 22nd birthday!  Hopefully a shout out counts as a suitable present!

Now on to today's blog ...

Today's Tampa Tribune has a news story by Kevin Wiatrowski on our city's "Urban Chickens."  If you've visited Tampa Bay's Ybor City (pronounced ee-bor, not why-bor!) - Tampa's version of a Latin Quarter (think of a junior version of New Orleans' French Quarter, but just as decadent);  you may have seen free range chickens running around.  It adds an extra touch of "What the f**k???" when visiting the crazy chaos that is Ybor City.  There's nothing like heading to the bars on a Friday night and having to stop for a mother hen and her chicks crossing the street.  What situation isn't made more special, more fantastic, more heartwarming than a free range chicken running across your path?  Life is always better with a live chicken.  And you can quote me on that.

The Tampa news story inspired me to write about one of my favorite places to go in Ybor City where chickens roam free.  If you are a regular reader of Lily On The Lam, you may recall in my post on Chef Floyd Cardoz and Danny Meyer's new NYC restaurant North End Grill that I referred to Cephas Gilbert, owner of Cephas' Hot Shop in Ybor City as the "Guru of my Colon."

Cephas used to have a restaurant in Ybor City.  Unfortunately several years ago, the restaurant had a fire. Since then, Cephas sells his food and drinks from a stand next to the restaurant site.  On Saturdays, the backyard terrace patio is a wonderful outdoor venue for live music, great food and great drinks.

I have been a faithful visitor of Cephas' Hot Shop for over a year, since former paramour Sergio first introduced me to the passionate and inspiring Cephas Gilbert.  Cephas is a prophet of the wonders and health benefits of fresh aloe vera gel.  Check out Cephas' website to learn more about what people are saying about aloe vera gel.  There are many health claims about aloe vera gel, however I am not a physician.  I can only say what the effects are for me - after drinking freshly made aloe vera shakes (fresh aloe vera gel, water and ice, blended until frothy and foamy) I do feel more energetic.  This energetic feeling stays with me for hours, much longer than caffeine or sugar-type effects.

Don't be surprised if Cephas eyes you up and down, correctly guesses your height and then tells you - whatever your weight - that you are fat.  Cephas believes he is the drill sergeant of health and if you are unhealthy, he just needs to talk louder and sterner.  But it's done with love and good intentions.  Cephas believes we are using our large intestine inefficiently, causing a variety of maladies.  He believes that aloe is the key to better health.  Cephas believes we are mistreating our bodies with processed food and believes aloe, changes in what you eat and exercise can help you get on the right path to health.  

The lining of the aloe plant has a laxative property.  The aloe gel that Cephas uses may contain small amounts of this lining, which is why I have given Cephas the nickname "Guru of my Colon."  I definitely feel that regular aloe vera shakes keep things moving and grooving for me.

Cephas recommends three aloe shakes a week for best benefit.  I will say that for the first time aloe drinker, you may find the enzymatic aloe vera gel shake to be a touch bitter.  Some find it just bland.  However the aloe shake is not savored for its taste but for its benefits.  Also, if you have dry skin, make sure you ask Cephas if he has any leftover aloe leaves.  Cephas generally will give them free with purchase and you can rub the remaining aloe gel in the leaves on your dry skin.

Cephas' Hot Shop is open Monday - Saturday from 11 a.m. to usually around 7 p.m., sometimes later.  Check out Cephas' website for yourself to see the reported claims about the benefits of aloe.  Or better yet, go visit Cephas.  He has a TV in the background running a loop on colon health benefits and he never tires of talking about the benefits of aloe.  Seriously.  He can talk up a storm about aloe and your body.    

An actual Urban Rooster next to Cephas' Hot Shop - Ybor City, FL

If an aloe vera gel shake is not your speed, how about some great Jamaican food instead?  Cephas offers traditional Jamaican fare - jerk chicken, curry chicken, goat, oxtail - and my favorite - the fish (pictured below).  Each plate comes with rice and beans, vegetables, a sweet potato and some hot pickled vegetables as well as the protein.  The picture below has been "Lilyfied" - I request fish and vegetables only (hold the rice and beans) to keep my starchy carbs low.  Cephas also sells my favorite Jamaican soda - the grapefruit-a-licious Ting.  You can buy food "to go" during the week and on Saturdays, you can either get your food to go or stay and enjoy live music, dinner and drinks in the backyard terrace.

Delicious Fish and Vegetable Plate from Cephas' Hot Shop

In addition to aloe shakes, great food and beverages and urban chicken viewing, my favorite part about visiting Cephas' Hot Shop is that if you stand there long enough you will see an amazing microcosm of Tampa Bay society.  From hippies to emo punk hipsters, from businesspeople to athletes, old to young, small to large, poor to rich and oh yeah, one quirky blog writer named Lily- there is an amazing array of people who come to visit Cephas.  I've had some of the most interesting conversations with people on the front patio in front of Cephas' aloe stand as I waited for Cephas to blend up my aloe vera gel, water and ice shake.  If you want to meet all of Tampa, come hang out in front of Cephas' Hot Shop for a few hours.  You'll be amazed at all the interesting and friendly people you will meet.  Everyone is happy, fun and chatty.  Perhaps its the aloe.  Perhaps its the good food.  Or perhaps its because hanging out at Cephas' Hot Shop just puts everyone in a good mood.  Who knows?  But if you're new to Tampa, it's a great way to meet new people.  However, bring cash because the front aloe vera stand does not take credit cards.

Cephas Gilbert is a character - a font of positive energy with a heart bigger than Ybor City itself.  I love talking with him and hearing his stories of his life and travels.  So whether your ears want to hear stories, your stomach wants great food, your pretty face wants to be seen by the best people in Tampa or your colon wants some aloe vera gel - or all four, get yourself and your body over to Cephas' Hot Shop in Ybor City.  

And say "hello" to the urban chickens for me.

September 2013 Update - Cephas has changed his website link to: CephasHotShop.com - check it out today!

  

You're incredibly sexy, but I am still not eating your octopus!

In my blog, I have written about many things that make me happy:


1)  Sanrio's Hello Kitty
2)  Cats that stick out their tongue at me
3)  Men who offer to save me from baby albino gekkos


Now I am adding another item to the list - sexy men who take me out for sushi.  It's a very good thing!


The Badass Bandit (aka B-Bandit) wanted to take me out to dinner.  He likes sushi.  I like sushi.  He's never been to Samurai Blue in Ybor.  I love Samurai Blue in Ybor.  Do the math, B-Bandit and I headed straight to Ybor for some delicious sushi.


One of the first restaurants I went to when I first moved to the Tampa Bay area is Samurai Blue.  Even if you don't like sushi, you should check this place out just for the interior architecture.  Basically from the outside it looks like an old warehouse - inside it looks like it has been gutted with all the high ceilings and lovely exposed beams showing the character of its formerly livelihood.  It is just a gorgeous place to dine.


I have been to Samurai Blue many times with various friends.  It is slightly on the pricier side but the quality is among the best in Tampa Bay.


(Side Note: if you're looking for a cheaper option but just as wonderful quality, check out my favorite sushi restaurant in Palm Harbor, FL: Koba Sushi.  Chef Kobayashi is beyond masterful at making fantastic sushi.  He used to have a restaurant near my home in South Tampa and I would go there 2-3 times a month.  I was devastated when he moved the restaurant to Palm Harbor!  Koba Sushi is definitely worth the drive, however!  I plan on kidnapping B-Bandit and taking him to Koba Sushi as a thank you for him taking me out to Samurai Blue.  Shhhh, no one tell him!)


B-Bandit and I shared edamame.  I ordered the tuna tataki and the spicy tuna roll.  It was all about tuna for me!  B-Bandit ordered the sushi and sashimi dinner.  I proclaimed that I was not brave enough to order a chef's choice sushi platter.  Lord knows what I would receive.  But I have to admit that B-Bandit's dinner looked pretty darn good ...

That is one awesome-looking sushi and sashimi dinner!  However if you look at the front middle of the picture, you will see my sushi arch-nemesis: OCTOPUS!


I loves me some good deep fried squid, but I have never been a big fan of octopus.  One Valentine's Day a million years ago, my masochistic date made me take a bite of octopus.  Evidently Valentine's Day is all about Fear Factor food dares.  I did NOT like it - it tasted like a fishy chew toy. 


(Side Note:  Can you believe NBC is bringing back Fear Factor?  Welcome back to TV, crazy Joe Rogan!)


So here I am at Samurai Blue with this incredibly sexy man and he leans over and tells me to try his octopus.  Now at first I thought this was a lewd sexual innuendo and trust me with B-Bandit, I am always on board for any sexual innuendo he may throw my way. 


"Sweetie, I'd love to try your octopus but can't we wait until we're back at my place?  Ohhhhh... did you mean your sushi?"


Did I say B-Bandit was a sexy man?  I think I meant "mean octopus pusher!"  I started shaking my head violently like a toddler who was just asked to drink a liver and spinach milkshake.


Not gonna do it! 


I will say that the octopus at Samurai Blue was cut thin and looked more tender than the piece I had tried a million years ago.  If I had never had octopus before, I probably would have tried it.  But I was scarred from a previous bad experience! 


B-Bandit nudged me again to try his octopus.  Ohhh if only he did mean it as sexual innuendo!


Our witty dinner conversation turned into:


"Come on, just try it."


"No, I'm not gonna do it!  You do it!"


"I'll do it, if you do it!"


"NOOOOOO!  You eat it by yourself!"


Clearly I was not going to win any points for adventurousness with food here.  I could see that B-Bandit was slightly less intoxicated by my wonderfulness after this exchange! 


Bless his hot ass, B-Bandit ate the whole piece of octopus sushi and said it was fine.  I think he also may have said "See, ya big baby!"  Or maybe I just imagined that ... hahahahha!


I will definitely have to think of a way to restore myself in B-Bandit's eyes, but until then - check out Samurai Blue or Koba Sushi for some great sushi if you're in the Tampa Bay Area!  It's fresh, delicious and amazing quality!


(P.S.  LilyOnTheLam.com Trivia:  My most favorite sushi restaurant in the world is Masa in New York City.  But you'll need a small fortune to have dinner there.  Plan on winning the lottery before dinner time!  There is also a Masa in Las Vegas at the Aria Resort and Casino.  If you're in the Las Vegas area, go see Cirque du Soleil Viva Elvis that is playing at the Aria and then get some sushi at Bar Masa.  You won't regret it!)