Do you Dress Up to Dine?

I grew up in Ohio, and when we went out to certain restaurants we would be sure to have on something a little nicer...polo shirts, dress shoes, blouse, khakis.  To go to a restaurant like Bonefish we would have dressed up.  But here in Florida we're casual diners.  Flip-flops, shorts, and t-shirts are always in style and not really out of place.  It's great!  You can put on one outfit and go anywhere you like.  No need to stop home and change.  Unless you like to dress up.  

At a recent stop at Bonefish I saw a women in a sparkly dresses, heels, and hair done-up standing next to a women in a jogging suit.  For someone like me, who finds dressing up more stressful than fun, being able to dine comfortably is one of my favorite things about Tampa.  When my family comes to visit they always ask what they should wear when we go out to dinner...I answer, "Whatever you want!"  

How Do You Order?

I used to try and order food at restaurants that I could never make at home.  It was like a special treat to get something out of the ordinary.  Lately, however, as my skills in the kitchen are expanding (thanks in part to the amount of Food Network we watch at our house) I find myself picking options that are dishes I can recreate at home.  

Yesterday I was out to lunch with my parents and I got this flatbread.

As I was eating it, I thought about each ingredient, and how I might recreate it at home.  It had chicken, garlic cream sauce, fresh tomatoes, fresh basil, and provolone cheese on crisp flatbread.   I think I might try a version of this with the garlic sauce, tomatoes, basil, mushrooms, and artichoke, covered with mozzarella cheese.  

So how do you order?  What dishes have you ordered and attempted to recreate at home?

Restaurants with TV's

Since I've been doing these restaurant reviews I've been paying a lot more attention to what a place looks like inside, and I'm surprised at the amount of restaurants with tv's in them.  I'm sure I've been watching tv in restaurants for years, without really noticing it.  But isn't the point of going out to eat getting away from the tv, the feeling of home, and being in a new environment while enjoying the company of others?  I mean, I can sit on my couch and watch tv while I eat, or I can call friends or go out with my husband and have conversations.  

Now, I understand if you are dining alone then it is convenient to grab a seat near a tv because you don't have anyone to talk with.  If you are at a sports bar, then I understand that you might want to watch the game.  But does there really need to be 10 tv's in every restaurant, continuously playing?  What do you think?

The Cost of a Good Meal

I don't know about you, but I love going out to eat.  I enjoy cooking, so eating out isn't to escape a chore around the house.  It's more about breaking up the norm, getting out of the house, and spending time with others.  The only problem:  it's often more expensive than I'd like. 

 

I'm not talking about a $50 meal either.  We try to stay on a tight budget to allow me to stay home with my baby.  When we go out, we drink water, usually skip appetizers and desserts, and look for the cheaper menu items.  At many restaurants the options are limited to sandwiches to stay within that budget.  That's why if we come across a restaurant that offers lots of choices for under $10 a plate, we usually end up liking it.  

On Dining Review Tampa I have a section called "Cheap Grub" where I list restaurants that offer food for great prices.  Sometimes it's nice to feel like you got your money's worth and still had a nice dinner.

I am enjoying this tour of restaurants that I am on now as I make my way around Tampa Bay to write reviews.  I am limited a bit by our budget, but we use Entertainment coupons, Restaurant.com certificates, and flyers from our mail to get good prices when we can.  I try and make a note of any discounts we used for our meal on my review pages...so you can save some money, too!

I love Blogging!

I have a blog that I've written for several years to share the adventures of my baby girl with friends and family in Ohio (where I'm from originally).  Time for blog number two.  I'll write about news and updates with my web site Dining Review Tampa, anything relating to food or things around Tampa, and I might just rant a little here or there, too.  

Wanna see my favorite food picture?

It's sweet potatoes...yummy.