I try to be eco-conscious when I get in my car. Is there somewhere close to home that offers what I'm looking for? Am I able to make it myself and not have to buy it at all? Can I support a local business? Can I make more than one stop on a venture? These are the questions I ask myself in order for me to justify the majority of trips I make in my car.

So on Friday, when we decided to drive almost an hour north to Hernando Beach to take my sister and brother-in-law to Brian’s Place, I had to answer to each one of those questions.

First off, there is nowhere in Tampa that does what Brian Alvarez, head chef and owner of Brian’s Place, is doing. His menu is based on what he calls “the way cuisine”. It’s the way his family, a blend of Spanish and Italian, cooked when he was growing up in Land O’ Lakes. This Spanish-Italian fusion blend is like nothing else.

This article appears in Jul 29 – Aug 4, 2010.