Photo via Kojak's House of Ribs / Facebook
The new location of Kojak''s House of Ribs in Seffner, Florida.
2D Café Stepping into the fairytale or comic book of your choice will be easier than ever when 2D Cáfe opens in the former swah-rey bakery location. The two-dimensional illusion is created by drawing thick, black outlines on an all-white background—which blurs the lines between our world and a cartoon one. ThatsSoTampa says 2D Cáfe will open in a few months, at the end of February or beginning of March. Its Central Avenue storefront was once home to the recently-shuttered bakery swah-rey, and similarities between the two concepts might explain the quick turnaround time. 2105 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. @the2dcafe on Instagram
The Brutalist / Temple of Beer The Brutalist and its taproom counterpart the Temple of Beer will soft open on March 10 during the very first King State Lagerfest—a new Tampa Bay Beer Week heavy hitter that will be the first opportunity to taste Brutalist’s first beers. 1776 11th Ave. N, St. Petersburg. templeofbeer.com
Kojak’s House of Ribs After operating its now-shuttered flagship location for 44 years, the South Tampa staple will reopen in Seffner at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Feb. 1. out of a former Pizza Hut. Although the new location looks quite different from its previous old-school farmhouse-turned-restuarant, the Kojak’s will have the same management and menu that made it famous so many years ago. The Kojak’s website recommends that you call ahead at 813-324-8371 to avoid the expected long waits during the Feb. 1 grand opening. 1809 S Parsons Ave., Seffner. kojaksbbq.net
Pacific Counter “Good food and good vibes” are headed to downtown Tampa this summer when the St. Pete chain it opens its third location. Serving signature ready-to-order Counter Creations and Build Your Own poke bowls, sushi burritos and a wide selection of beverages, the St. Petersburg restaurant is expanding its franchise over the bridge after four years of searching. North Ashley Drive and West Tyler Street in the Modera Apartments, Tampa. pacificcounter.com
LALA restaurant and karaoke bar If you love singing your heart out at karaoke but don't like embarrassing yourself in front of everyone, then Lala (stylized "LALA"), St. Petersburg’s new (and only) bar and restaurant with private karaoke rooms, may interest you. Slated to open during the first week of February, the restaurant, its two bars, and seven private karaoke rooms will occupy a two-story building in the Grand Central District and share an outdoor courtyard with its neighbor Grand Central Brewhouse. 2324 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. lalastpete.com
Sweetgreen If you’re trying to avoid the heavy (and delicious) eats of Sweetgreen’s soon-to-be neighbors Bacon Bitch or Bodega, then perhaps this new health-forward restaurant. Sandwiched in-between popular gay club Enigma and Bacon Bitch, St. Pete’s new Sweetgreen will be able to seat 27 guests inside and 16 outside— as reported by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. Sweetgreen will open in St. Pete’s EDGE District at a collection of small businesses known as the Central Arcade. 114 Central Ave., St. Petersburg. sweetgreen.com
Events
4th annual St. Petersburg Seafood & Music Festival returns to Williams Park this weekend Although there’s no information online about the specific seafood lineup, previous years of the festival have had different stands selling one special dish. Expect to see various different types of seafood offerings at this weekend’s festival, from fish and chips to lobster tempura, cajun-fried alligator, blackened grouper and grilled mahi mahi. Williams Park, 350 2nd Ave. N, St. Petersburg. Friday-Sun, Jan. 28-30, $7 & up.seafoodfestivals.com
Dade City’s Kumquat Festival highlights the small, seasonal citrus fruit this weekend Thousands will descend upon Dade City on Saturday, Jan. 29 for its annual Kumquat Festival and enjoy delicious kumquat foods from pies to cookies to ice cream. Of course, while the state of Florida is known for oranges and other citrus fruits, the kumquat is a smaller citrus mainly grown in Pasco County since the late 1800s. Kumquats are native to China—their name means “golden orange”—and the most popular type grown in the U.S. is the Nagami. Florida kumquat season is short so get them while you can between October and February. Downtown Dade City, free to attend. kumquatfestival.org
Tampa Bay Jewish Food Festival returns to Clearwater next month, with NYC's best exports in tow The Best of the Bay-winning festival returns for its 2022 edition, and it will be the easiest way to get some of the tastiest Jewish food in the Bay area delivered right to you (literally). The festival will be drive-thru only, and all food orders must be placed online by Monday, Jan. 31. Orders can be placed on the festival website, and you will have to select a window of time on Feb. 27 to pick up your big ol' bag of goodies. The menu for this year’s festival is extensive, ranging from traditional dishes like matzo ball soup, chopped liver, smoked whitefish salad and Kosher herring and lox spread to sweet treats like New York-style cheesecake, cinnamon and chocolate babka and raspberry Linzer tart pie. Although most of the food offered will be made in-house by temple volunteers, there will be a wide range of meats and deli spreads shipped straight from New York, including Junior’s cheesecakes and babkas from the Green’s Bakery from Brooklyn, and corned beef and pastrami from NYC’s famous Carnegie Deli in Manhattan. Sunday, Feb 27. Temple B'nai Israel, 1685 S Belcher Rd., Clearwater. @tampabayjewishfoodfest on Facebook
The Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival returns to St. Petersburg next month Although the Tampa Bay Collard Green Festival thoroughly honors the prized leafy green, this annual event is also a celebration of health, community, urban agriculture and dietary education. In addition to collard greens prepared every way you can imagine, the day-long block party will feature live entertainment, a celebrity chef appearance, cooking demonstrations, giveaways from community sponsors and the main event of the evening—a highly-anticipated collard green cook-off. Saturday, Feb. 19, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dr. Carter G Woodson Museum, 2240 9th Ave. S, St. Petersburg. tampacollardgreenfestdonations.ecwid.com
ICYMI
Food & Wine names Tampa's Jamison B. Breadhouse as best bread in Florida Food & Wine senior editor David Landsel named "The Best Bread in Every State," lauding Tampa's very own Jamison B. Breadhouse as tops in Florida. In his piece, Landsel heaps praise on the 2021 Best of The Bay winner and lauds how owners Blue and Jason Laukhuf adapted to a pandemic that killed half of the business. 3615 E 7th Ave. Bldg. C Ybor City. jamisonb.com
