Owner Angelica Diaz sure has fun with her restaurant, which doubles as an art gallery, playhouse, culinary school and Gripe Central for the Irritable Tribe of Poets. The restaurant celebrates the late Mexican artist Frida Kahlo with recipes from Frida's Fiestas cookbook, art from local elementary schools, music and Frida look-alike contests. It offers tortilla-making classes, vegetarian dinners and food performance art. Stop in for primo salads and enchiladas, followed by gooey chocolate chimichangas for dessert.
Viva La Frida Café y Galeria, 5901 N. Florida Ave., Tampa, 813-231-9199.
This article appears in Sep 25 – Oct 1, 2003.