I like bread. I like pizza. I don't like being that girl who has to turn down cookies that are circulating the office because "I'm on the South Beach diet."
It's tough out there for carb addicts, and eating out is like walking through a minefield. Complimentary baskets of bread and bowls of chips and salsa seem to come at you from all directions. And while your dining companions nosh on those verboten treats, it's easy for those of us with no willpower to sneak a couple bites. Everybody's doin' it.
The trick for me is to keep telling myself, "I'll like being thin more than I'll like that piece of bread."
So if you're out at Outback this week, have some bread for me.
Changes coming for Viva la Frida
Word that the popular Seminole Heights restaurant and artsy hotspot is closing has been flying around Tampa Bay recently. To the dismay of local diners, both the St. Petersburg Times and Tampa Tribune reported in early February that the owners of Viva la Frida Café y Galeria were selling the restaurant.
But according to half-owner John Ames, the news is not so bleak — Frida will stay open "until further notice."
His partner Angelica Diaz said that she has run out of steam, but Ames, who is also the chef, is determined to continue on.
He's in negotiations now with interested parties looking to buy out Diaz's share. "We've got a few prospects," Ames said, but he's not exactly sure what changes will come with the new partner.
The restaurant wouldn't be Frida anymore — "that's Angelica's thing," he said. The new incarnation will have a different name and theme, but the basic elements will remain.
Ames says the new menu will be similar, but that he plans to "freshen it up." He also intends to maintain the many vegetarian options that have brought a large following to Frida, as well as keep the restaurant as a performance space.
Ames and Diaz opened Frida in 2001. Its décor is an homage to Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, and it has become a haven for local artists, featuring an art gallery, live music and poetry readings.
Diaz, who said she will stay on at the restaurant until the Viva la Frida corporation is dissolved, plans to continue promoting Kahlo's art with events and exhibits of her personal collection.
For the time being though, Ames wants everyone to know that no changes are being made. "We're still booking a lot of shows," and everything is the same, he said.
Viva la Frida, located at 5901 N. Florida Ave., is open from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Mon., Wed. and Thurs. and from 5:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Fri.-Sun. Call 813-231-9199 or go to www.vivalafrida.net.
Thai Corner opens downtown
The former home of Franklin Street Sushi, which closed in August, is now The Thai Corner. The traditional Thai restaurant serving dishes such as Pad Thai and chicken teriyaki opened Feb. 20.
This is the first restaurant for co-owners Rungthip Uttankanchana and her sister Viriya Chaisurivirat, who both previously worked at their family's Bangkok 9 restaurant in downtown St. Pete.
Uttankanchana said that for now the Corner is serving just Thai food but she hopes to begin serving sushi within six months.
Thai Corner, at 713 N. Franklin St. in Tampa, is open 11 a.m.-9p.m. Mon.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Fri., and 4-10 p.m. Sat. Call 813-433-3934.
New seafood market in Tampa
The Blue Sea Seafood Market & Restaurant opened Jan. 26 at 7710 N. Nebraska Ave.
Offerings include mullet, grouper, flounder, tilapia and catfish as well as shrimp, clams and scallops. Patrons can order their seafood dinners fried, broiled or steamed. Blue Sea also serves fried fish sandwiches, family dinners and seafood platters.
There are a few land-based options, such as chicken sandwiches and nuggets, fried rice and hush puppies.
The business is mostly takeout orders, but there are a couple of tables for those who want to eat there.
Meals are cooked to order, or there is a market section where customers can purchase fresh fish to cook at home.
Hours are Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Call 813-234-5085.
Know of restaurants opening or closing? Have news of new chefs, new dishes or other culinary gossip? E-mail anne.arsenault@weeklyplanet.com.
This article appears in Mar 1-7, 2006.