If you manage to find a spot in line at Hyde Park’s buzzing Fresh Kitchen, it won’t be long before your taste buds experience an alluring explosion of fresh flavors. From juicy to crunchy, sweet to savory, friendly FK’rs, who definitely look like they work out, swiftly build your base-protein-veggie-sauce mashup behind the fast-casual restaurant’s counter. Choose any combination of tasty ingredients — including sweet potato noodles, kale slaw, barbecue chicken, tofu, seasonal veggies and cucumber jalapeño sauce — that suit your cravings. Our food critic recognized his favorite item, the coconut cauliflower, as one of his 25 favorite tastes of the year.
Food & Drink
Fodder & Shine may have had a bit of a hard time finding its identity in burgeoning but not completely avant-garde Seminole Heights. But, while chef Greg Baker had to tweak his authentic Florida cracker cuisine to appease the unseasoned palates of thought-they-were-brave foodies, the restaurant’s bar offerings plus video games and pool table have made it a pretty great spot to kick it into the late night. 5910 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-234-3710, fodderandshine.com
Runners Up: Einstein Bros Bagels, Clearwater Bagels
Runners Up: Alessi Bakery, Bake‘n Babes
Hey, sometimes you’re just not in the mood for another hoppy IPA or citrus-smoked bacon whatever. Cigar City’s getting the jump on the burgeoning cider and mead markets the same way it got ahead of the Bay area craft beer curve, and is putting out the area’s best stuff as a result. From sweet summery ciders to more subtle, textured concoctions and a fearless attitude toward experimenting with the ancient (and misnamed, really) “honey wine” known as mead, the staff at this casual Ybor City brewery and tasting room is friendly, skilled and schooled. If you’re willing to be curious and more than a little fearless yourself when it comes to new flavors, they’ll help you find a new obsession in something you’ve never tasted before. 1812 N. 15th St., Ybor City. 813-242-6600, cigarcitycider.com
Runners Up: Urban Brew & BBQ, 4 Rivers Smokehouse
