Photo via jayluigistpete/Instagram
There will be several naturally-fermented Roman and Neapolitan-style pizzas to choose from on the Jay & Luigi menu.
BurgerFi chain continues its gradual plan to takeover the "better burger" market in Tampa Bay The Florida-based franchise recently debuted three new locations, one in downtown Tampa's Sparkman Wharf, another at The Preserve Marketplace in Odessa, and another at Tampa's Westchase Village Square. To celebrate, the fast casual chain is giving away free cheeseburgers from select locations via an app. From today to Feb. 1, the free burgers will be available at The Preserve Marketplace and Sparkman Wharf locations.
Coming soon
Cider Press Vegan Gastropub and Patio Bar Patrons of the recently-closed Cider Press Cafe will have to spend the first few months of the new year patiently awaiting the debut of the brand new Cider Press Vegan Gastropub and Patio Bar, which is slated to open in St. Pete’s Historic Kenwood in just a few months. Co-owner Johan Everstijn tells Creative Loafing Tampa Bay their construction team just broke ground on the new location this week, and is building an entire kitchen from the ground up is first thing on the docket. The space lives at the home of the popular gay club Georgie’s Alibi until its closure in 2015. 3118 3rd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. @ciderpresscafestpete on Facebook
Jay & Luigi A new place to get fresh pizza and pasta on the fly is headed to the area near Five Points and the Historic Old Northeast, when trattoria-style restaurant Jay & Luigi celebrates its grand opening on Friday, Jan. 28. There will be several naturally-fermented Roman and Neapolitan-style pizzas to choose from on the Jay & Luigi menu, including the Sophia—with roasted garlic, tomato, arugula, sea salt, EVOO, balsamic and prosciutto— and the Sweet Jamie Kay, complete with tomato, house-made mozzarella, soppressata and Calabrian honey. 3201 4th St. N, St. Petersburg. jayluigi.com
True Food Kitchen True Food Kitchen is all about boosting your general health with its nutrient-dense superfoods, and Tampa Bay can get a taste of the wellness-forward menu when its very first Tampa location opens on Feb. 28. The Raymond James Stadium-adjacent Midtown Tampa, which boasts a wide variety of restaurants and businesses, is home for the new 5,000 square-foot True Food Kitchen. Its spacious dining room can host 127 guests, while its outdoor shaded patio can seat up to 88 people. Folks that opt to sit outside will be surrounded by outdoor garden basins filled with fresh herbs and spices. In terms of True Food Kitchen’s menu, don’t expect to see anything that’s processed, inflammatory or generally unhealthy. Everything offered is designed to help you reach optimal health—from the truffle honey and pear flatbread to its pan-seared sea bass served over a bed of broccolini, roasted mushrooms, charred onion, ancient grains and herbs. 3645 Midtown Dr., Tampa. @truefoodkitchenTampa on Facebook
ICYMI
Tampa hot chicken chain King of the Coop made its Cooking Channel debut It's been six months since "Food Paradise" stopped into the Wesley Chapel location of forever-expanding Tampa hot chicken chain King of the Coop, and now fans can finally saw what went down when The Cooking Channel aired the footage on Jan. 12. The episode, "Feeling Hot Hot Hot!," promises mouth-scorching peppers, heartwarming hotcakes, Carolina Reaper hot wings, hot fudge, hot tamales and King of the Coop's "stacked Nashville hot chicken sandwich." "Food Paradise" has been around since 2007 and travels the U.S. to find the country’s “must-see food spots.”
Monster Beverage buys parent company of Tampa's Cigar City Brewing If you’ve ever poured a Jai Alai into a Monster, then your twisted fantasy has just come true—sort of. Last week, the Monster Beverage Corp announced a deal to purchase CanarchyCraft Brewery Collective (stylized “CANarchy”) for $330 million. Canarchy is the parent company of Tampa’s Cigar City Brewing, as well as a handful of other popular brewers, including Utah-based Squatters, and Wasatch Brewing. The all-cash deal, which is expected to be finalized this spring, will leave Canarchy as an independent operation, and will act as a "springboard" for Monster into the alcoholic beverage realm, said co-Chief Executive Officer Hilton Schlosberg in a statement.
