Hey! I'm Leslie! Join me in my Food meets fashion adventure!
Hey! I'm Leslie! Join me in my Food meets fashion adventure!
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false I can still remember my very first stinky bun. No, this is not some sort of sick joke. Stinky Bunz are all too real and for that, I am so thankful. This unforgettable food memory was created last April, when I was ravenous as ever and dreadfully hot from Florida’s springtime sun. Prancing around a Tampa Bay Food Truck Rally set in the cobblestone streets of historic Ybor City, I couldn’t for the life of me, choose my midday chow. Standard Leslie style, I desperately walked from truck to truck reading off each sandwich, taco, and burger description. My stomach was growling, my brow was filled with sweat and my beau was losing it with my inability to make a simple lunchtime decision. With mere seconds left before I threw a self-induced hissy fit, I spotted it. Stinky Bunz food truck…there it stood, parked and waiting for a visit that would forever change a little lady’s life. Lover of nearly all ethnic fare, I had no worries. For these Korean sandwich-like bundles of goodies would pleasure my palate-I was certain.
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Sushi, how I worship thee. Delicate, rich, spicy and smooth- oh the many ways a rolled-up concoction of goodies can so easily delight me. There are very few cuisines I can take pleasure in devouring at any given moment of the day. Specialty sushi rolls; why, I can never resist the warm, gooey cream cheese, crisp asparagus, velvety avocado and fresh Ahi, salmon, shrimp, and scallops galore. Sushi is an edible art form that I have become so very fond of in my educated eating years.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false I love eggs. C’mon, if you read my blog even sporadically, you already know that! As I’ve said many times before, I take them anyway they’re handed to me- fried, poached, scrambled...you name it. Yet, boiling them to a dense, pale yellow center is without question, my least preferred way to “take them.” Growing up, I often requested my mom prepare me a perfectly timed soft-boiled egg. If my soft-boiled egg was one minute overcooked, I threw a fit. Yeah, I was that girl. At age 8, I was awfully particular about eggs. Go figure.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…I am no food snob. Hand me a cheeseburger from a greasy dive and I’ll eat it. Pass me a taco from a street side stand and I’ll devour it. On the rare occasions when I’m undisturbed with calories, I will consume, well, pretty much anything. Yet, I can’t bear to think about where some of these questionable ingredients are coming from. With the unfortunate truth of genetically modified foods, there is nothing I love more than putting fresh, sustainable and local ingredients on my palate. The Farm to Table movement has become increasingly popular throughout the country but most notably in big cuisine culture cities like San Francisco and Asheville. Thankfully, Tampa Bay has heard, noted and responded to the movement. Farm to table eateries have gradually been sprouting up around town and I couldn’t be happier and hungrier for it.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Good luck is upon me…oh, how I can feel it in my intuitive bones. A much loved holiday is rapidly approaching and I couldn’t be more ecstatic for the fun-filled festivities of delicious food and…ahem, fluid. Time to dig up a dress of clover and some jewels of jade. A day of Corned Beef and Cabbage and Sheppard’s Pie galore is excitedly awaiting my hungry chops. An evening with my finest friends: Jameson, Bailey(s) and Guinness will likely be a stellar time for all. St. Patrick’s Day, you ole, good time, Irish rascal you…I’ve missed you so. Where shall we reunite? My town is no Dublin, but will have to make do. I’ve got a few solid bars up my green sleeve. Let the Leprechauns lead the way- for we only have today.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false falseReaders: Consider this your official warning/disclaimer. You will likely find yourself dreaming of runny yolks, crispy home fries and scrumptious pancake stacks as you follow Dash of Les over the next few months. For an official Tampa Bay brunch tour is underway and I couldn’t be more stoked to share my morning time feasting experiences with all of you. 6 restaurants. 6 mornings of bliss.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false falseI am a total food geek. This little fact is hardly newsworthy given my publicly known hobby of food blogging. What you may not know, however, is that I take pictures of…well, pretty much everything I consume. It has often frustrated my dining partners, as I allow no one to touch their plate until I’ve achieved an acceptable shot. Half of these pictures will never make a blog post. So, why, you might ask, I “waste” my precious time insisting on the perfect photo of every breakfast, lunch and dinner I eat? Simply put, I “foodspot.” Foodspotting is an international foodie community created and controlled by a company in the culinary heavens of San Francisco. The primary goal is simple: Sharing pictures of excellent food with other foodies who live near…and very, very far. It is best used as an app on a smart phone but can be accessed from the website as well. Posting pictures and exchanging compliments with your “foodie friends” can be quite addicting. The coolest part of it all…I get to see shots of cuisine taken by people who live in India, Greece, Taiwan, Italy and more.
Ahh brunch, you gluttonous, irresistible devil, you! Eggs- scrambled, poached, fried over-medium? Yes please. I’ll take them all…with some buttered toast for yolk sopping, of course. Crispy, delightfully greasy, thick-cut bacon? Heck yes. I’m your biggest fan. Cheesy jalapeno grits, chocolate chip infused pancakes, flaky buttery biscuits covered in creamy sausage gravy…my, oh my. Bring it on. Oh, how I so adore the occasional Saturday or Sunday feast often topped off with Mimosas and Bloody Marys. Brunch is without question, my favorite kind of food party. I say “party” because I don’t typically stuff myself silly and drink alcohol at the 11-o-clock hour unless there’s good reason for the lavish indulging.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Food blogging certainly has its perks. I get to flex my creative muscles with my #1 love of writing for thousands of readers near and far. I also get to justify devouring in ridiculously delicious and often decadent cuisine. Even when I am “dieting” or attempting a healthy life-style of Paleo, I can make an excuse or two a week with “Well, I have to eat this cream sauced, meat and cheese filled, carbohydrate loaded plate of scrumptiousness…it’s for the sake of my blog!” But, the biggest perk of all is when I am invited to an awesome restaurant and treated like royalty from the second I walk in…to the instant I push in my chair and prance out.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false There is something to be said about hot gooey cheese oozing from the center of some succulent meat. It kind of makes me giddy…yes, giddy. I am not ashamed. As badly as I have yearned for a “Jucy Lucy” recently (a luscious…and very gluttonous cheese-stuffed burger), devouring one of these fat-laden beauties right before bikini season would be an awful decision. Yet, with the intense Jucy Lucy cravings and a recent and random obsession with Kalamata olives, I began brainstorming. I had just bought a package of Whole Wheat Israeli couscous that I had been pretty stoked to use too. I could see clearly now…no obstacles were in my way. My kitchen would be anxiously awaiting a Mediterranean (cheese stuffed) Meatball creation that my beau would later deem “incredible”- his favorite adjective when his taste buds are pleased.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false falseVery seldom does a restaurant allow me to leave feeling refreshed and ready to seize the day. Too often, I sluggishly walk out the door while holding my stomach in despair and wanting nothing more than a food induced comatose kind of nap. Vietnamese cuisine is quite the contrary for my mind, body and spirit. It picks me up when I am feeling blue and cures me when I am feeling ill. The fragrant herbs, spicy sauces and steamy broths must have Southeast Asian healing powers. I have traveled Tampa near and far, tasting many rolls, numerous pho’s, several Banh Mi’s and countless rice noodle bowls. I feel that, as a Vietnamese fare fanatic, I must set the record straight. There is one Vietnamese joint that ranks supreme. For their unique spin on the delectable and insanely fresh goods, downtown Tampa’s Bambooze Café dominates all.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Stumbling through the streets of New York City with eleven other fantastic females…well, that my friends, is what I would call a pretty righteous bachelorette party. Yet, when my dear friend, Emily chose the Big Apple as her (almost) anything goes, estrogen infused, party until you pass out, destination, I immediately cringed. New York City in January? A vision of chapped lips, cracked hands, patchy red cheeks and my little body shaking from head to toe quickly swept through my mind. A born and raised Floridian, I am most certainly the weakest of weak in dreadfully cold temperatures. But, I took control of my internal whimpering and reminded myself of all the glorious cuisine I would be partaking in. That is when, the thought of 30-degree weather fazed me no more. For food in NYC is most definitely in a league of its own.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false If you’re anything like yours truly, you enjoy burning, puffy lips and a runny nose as you eat. Okay, chances are, you are nothing like me; for I am a certified weirdo with my passion for insanely spicy foods. A heat seeker to the point of chaos, I love nothing more than to indulge in hot sauces and spices galore. With my mouth and stomach of steel, I never regret my scorching and oh so satisfying food decisions. In fact, I tend to toot my own horn for superb genetics that have allowed me to devour a mound of food that would make most cringe and wave a white flag after one bite. Along with Thai food, where I always order my noodles and Curry dishes “Thai Hot,” I am also a serious sucker for Creole cuisine. Between my brother’s world famous black roux Gumbo and my delectable and simple Shrimp Creole, I’ve been very fortunate to get my N’awlins food fix on the regular after having not visited the Crescent City in almost 10 years (that little fact is unacceptable and must change soon).
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Just a couple of weeks ago I scored stardom. Yes, officially a Tampa celebrity is who I am. It was only a matter of time until everyone realized just how cool Leslie Floyd is, right? Okay, all silliness and absolute ridiculousness aside, I did attain a really cool opportunity that allowed me to not only meet an awesomely comical Time magazine columnist but also offered me a position as an official judge for one deliciously indulgent food truck competition.
I rarely get excited about the frankfurter. I’ve been to NYC once and only have a blurry recollection of devouring the age-old meat in bun concept. Hotdogs are just not one of those simple life pleasures I tend to crave. Yet, there is one place…and one place only, that truly promotes a certain childhood nostalgia which in turn, forces me to excitedly chow down on 100% pure Vienna beef dogs snuggled in perfectly steamed poppy seed buns. If you grew up in Tampa, you already know what joint I’m referring to. If you have lived here for even 5 years and have yet to experience the famous, the legendary, the ever-so righteous Mel’s Hotdogs, then you, my friend should be ashamed…brutally ashamed.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false I honestly cannot remember the last time I had ventured out to the seemingly far away lands of Citrus Park. I suppose I’ve become all too comfortable with the sights and sounds of South Tampa and Seminole Heights. However, after a recent pampering with fine wine and scrumptious cuisine galore, I’ve begun to sing a different tune about this underrated area of town. I’m sure I’ve been missing out on numerous exceptional establishments all along but…after one particularly memorable wining and dining experience, I am now absolutely certain I have been mistakenly neglecting two very noteworthy Tampa gems. Thanks to the adorably classy and quaint Napa Flair WineStore as well as the fresh and inventive Grille 54, Citrus Park will now be seeing this little foodie frequent its grounds with some serious indulging intentions.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false A chilly winter night comes rather infrequently in my homeland. Florida offers very few opportunities for true jacket and scarf weather and most of the time, I don’t mind this sunshine state characteristic one bit. Yet, my yearning for a steaming bowl of soup is often foiled with an eighty degree December eve. It is on those slightly chillier nights- those brisk seventy degree nights that I get in serious soup spirit. With my porch doors swung wide open, allowing the fresh air to make its way into my living room and kitchen, I am in full soup swing. This week will be one of those perfectly cool weeks as a storm is coming in tomorrow night, bringing a refreshing “chilly front” right along with it. I am anticipating soup galore in my kitchen and I couldn’t be more ecstatic.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false In my food-loving world, there is one cuisine that always ranks supreme: Sushi. Oh how it tempts me more often than I should say. I simply cannot get enough of the rolled up lobster, scallop, salmon or tuna accompanied with taste-bud pleasures like cream cheese, avocado, asparagus, cucumber, roe, aioli and eel sauce…my goodness, I admire it all. My favorite modern sushi hot spot in Tampa? Soho Sushi…or as I like to call it, “Sushi Paradise.” Soho Sushi sets the bar quite high for the seaweed wrapped, cylinder shaped, fish-filled rolls of heaven. Sushi daredevils, these artistic chefs love breaking old-school raw seafood rules and fusing ingredients from Italian, American and even Mexican cuisines making their sushi very progressive and also so uniquely divine. This joint also boasts one spectacular daily happy hour from 5-7PM with BOGO house wine and beer as well as a featured selection of delicious discounted specialty rolls.
0 false 18 pt 18 pt 0 0 false false false Ladies nights. Birthday celebrations. Business meeting happy hours. Romantic evenings for dates #1 or #50. South Tampa’s Cru Cellars has got you covered. This wine and tapas bar is darn near perfect for all of the above and more. Easy to miss, the new-ish Tampa jewel is located on South Macdill Avenue with Datz as their friendly neighbor. You may have driven right past the nondescript sign once. I beg of you-do not make this mistake again. Many of my readers may remember a blog post I wrote about Cru a while back. After wining and dining on a few lovely occasions, I praised their culinary efforts as well as their extensive (and superb) wine list. Consistency is crucial for big city restaurant survival and Cru is proving their greatness time and time again.