He may have graduated from sweating behind a stove, but his innovative recipes adorn the menus at both Salt Rock Grill and Island Way. Plus, he´s a great guy who always seems to have a smile on his face. Maybe it´s the glass of wine in his hand (or the bottle in his pocket), or maybe he just loves his life. He supports local charities, cooks a mean ¨panty peeler¨ seared tuna, and basically is a friend to Tampa Bay. We´re damn happy to have him. Here´s looking at you, Tom.
Salt Rock Grill, 19325 Gulf Blvd., Indian Shores, 727-593-7625; Island Way Grill, 20 Island Way, Clearwater Beach, 727-461-6617.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.