A new bakery, café and tapas bar called So Gourmet is scheduled to open in the Palma Ceia area of Tampa before Wednesday, July 1.
So Gourmet took over the space previously occupied by Nuevo Café at 3301 S. Dale Mabry Highway. Nuevo Café opened in 2005, and was completely rebuilt three years later after it burnt to the ground.
According to So Gourmet manager Celine Germain, the food and wine offerings will have a heavy European influence.
"We will have an upscale but not-too-snobby feel," Germain quipped.
She said the chef-owners Chantel and Frederic Brillard hail from France, where they owned a café. The pair brought their kitchen's entire staff with them to the United States.
The concept for the eatery is broad. French bakery items, including homemade bread, will be served fresh daily, and from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., sandwiches, salads, entrées and fine pastries will be available. When the clock strikes 5, So Gourmet will convert to a wine bar with "innovative tapas" that are European-inspired, desserts and a broad wine selection.
Management plans to open a second location toward the end of the year, and has already rented the downtown space at 200 N. Tampa St.
This article appears in Jun 11-17, 2015.