Over the weekend, Tampa's Sparkman Wharf made the final partnership announcement for its intimate al fresco dining garden. Local chef and four-time James Beard Award semifinalist Jeannie Pierola plans to bring her newest project to the forthcoming waterfront hangout along the Garrison Channel, and it's been dubbed edison's swigamajig divebar and fishkitchen.
Regionites can rejoice for a couple of reasons: One, this means weekly reveals from Sparkman Wharf are over (hopefully). And two, swigamajig is, seriously, like, the best name ever.
edison's swigamajig — an expansion of the beloved New American restaurant Pierola debuted in 2012, Edison: Food+Drink Lab — is a no-frills yet reinvented Florida seafood shack with a menu of craft cocktails and fresh "seafoodie" eats, plus beer and organic wine. The concept will occupy two repurposed shipping containers at Sparkman Wharf, rounding out the dining garden's lineup of nine occupants.
But don't expect your average clarified butter or Old Bay seasoning.
"At edison: food+drink lab we have been working for some time on our newest invention, edison's swigamajig, a divebar and fishkitchen. Then, we heard the vision for Sparkman Wharf and jumped at the chance to partner with Strategic Property Partners to bring this modern seafoodie dive to downtown. We are super excited to join the extraordinary local culinary team that has been assembled. We cannot wait to shake some cocktails and cook the catch of the day for you at Tampa's newest culinary destination…Sparkman Wharf!" said Pierola in a statement.
Part of the larger Water Street Tampa neighborhood, the outdoor Sparkman Wharf and its dining garden, biergarten and recreational lawn are shooting for an opening in October.
