If you´ve been caught in an economic downturn and mere survival has become an art form, this spaghetti is for you. To be a tightwad artist, one needs big food that can be divided into leftovers much as Jesus multiplied the fishes and loaves for the Sermon on the Mount. This raft of spaghetti is a mere $3.29. With a choice of tomato, mushroom, meatball or meat sauce, it is far from pauperized. It is in fact rather extravagant, with extras like two planks of golden, crusty buttered garlic bread and a choice of tossed or Greek salad. Just be careful with the ranch and blue cheese, a heady 25-cent addition to the price. Depending on how Mary Kate you are, this dish could easily make two or three more meals.
The Gardens Restaurant and Pizza, 5201 Busch Blvd., Temple Terrace, 813-989-2069.
This article appears in Sep 22-28, 2004.
