Well, Gasparilla Music Festival has done it again. The annually held two-day festival, scheduled for March 10 and 11, remains a prime destination for those seeking a taste of Tampa's local flavor as much as an ambitious bill of tunes.
Just take a look at the grub lineup: Anise Global Gastrobar (stinky bunz and lettuce wraps); Big Ray's Fish Camp (grouper sandwich and coleslaw); Cafe Hey (Cuban sandwich and vegan truffle mac); Dochos Latin Bistro (fries, fried pickles and dipping sauce); Dough Nation (cookie dough and ice cream); Ella's Americana Folk Art Cafe (chicken and waffle sandwich); Élevage (Juicy Lucy burger); Haven (smoked chicken torta); Holy Hog Barbecue (ribs, pulled pork sandwich, nachos and wings); Hot Donut Co. (doughnuts and coffee); Ichicoro (karaage with spicy mayo, furikake and tostones); Independent Bar & Cafe (Indie grilled cheese and vegan sloppy Joe); Kona Ice (shaved ice and ice cream); Malio's Prime Steakhouse (prime rib sandwich); Nico's Arepas Grill (Venezuelan arepas and cachapas); Parnell Foods (lemonade); Rooster & the Till (vegetarian nachos and roasted pork nachos); Sexton's Pizza (Ohio-inspired pizza); Spain Restaurant & Toma Bar (empanadas); and Whatever Pops (specialty popsicles).
What's particularly interesting is that vendor No. 21, Casa Santo Stefano, decided to premiere its Sicilian eats for the first time publicly at GMF. Tentatively opening later this year in Ybor City, the Columbia Restaurant Group's latest eatery — whose name pays homage to the Sicilian immigrants who came to Tampa from the village of Santo Stefano — is led by executive chef Alessio Selleri and his team.
But CL really wishes their small-plate samples weren't limited to the VIP tent.
According to a statement from GMF Director of Food & Beverage Ty Rodriguez, who's also a co-owner of Rooster & the Till, these are some of the best food slingers that the region has to offer.
"Restaurants such as Ichicoro and Holy Hog coming back and joining newcomers Haven, Élevage and Casa Santo Stefano, the newest Gonzmart restaurant, which has chosen to make its debut at GMF, are sure to bring the food scene to another level," Rodriguez said.
Man, now we're hungry.
There's another GMF first in store from Cigar City Brewing on the drinks side, too. This year, the Tampa brewery's traditional pilsner — which launched in 2017 when it was exclusively brewed for the downtown event — will be available for purchase in cans.
The refreshing beer accompanies everything from Tito's Handmade Vodka and Jameson Caskmates to wine and boxed water.
This article appears in Mar 1-8, 2018.