05-15-09

05-15-09
I had pick up my RX at Walmart. I have switched my prescriptions to them because if you tell them that you don't have any insurance they will fill a 3 month RX for $12, just don't tell them you have insurance even if you do, it's cheaper than going through your insurance. So we are going to Ybor for lunch today, we have passed by Bernini hundreds of times but have never stopped in. They have outside seating which we usually choose over the inside but today we are inside. The place is very nice. Once you pass through the doors you are transported from the USA directly to Italy. Old world tall ceilings with raised steps and real cornice inserts, brick oven imported from Italy, faux walls, half circle windows you get the idea. Jemma our waitress brings me their least expensive house cab (Avalon $6 and decent) and Dixie an ice tea. Jemma tells us the daily specials and unlike most other places the price for each special. I hate having to ask,how much is that? Dixie gets today's special, cheese risotto with shrimp, artichoke hearts, diced tomatoes, basil, just flat out delicious, I got their signature dish, pistachio crusted REAL grouper and this is real grouper-there has been so much catfish and such passed off as grouper that most people don't know what they are getting- with garlic mashed potatoes and broccolini with a marsala brown butter sauce. Jemma brings out warm Italian bread with oil and spices (we ask for butter) and also torino bread sticks. Before the meals comes Jemma delivers a knock down dead salad of mixed greens, dried cranberries, red onions, blue cheese, pine nuts, and balsamic vinegerette dressing, sounds ordinary but everything meshed just right. Both meals were the lunch size, which is just right for us even for dinner. Somehow we had room for their creme brulle served with ripe strawberries and the plate drizzled with raspberry sauce. They call it "to Die for" creme brulle, good and creamy with just a hit of what tasted like butterscotch, whenever I eat the carmelized sugar off the top I always remember the taste of marshmallows cooking on a campfire. Dr Bob, the father of the owner- he is a retired pediatrician dentist- greets you, seats you, checks on you and basically makes you feel at home. There is an upstairs bar and dining area that is open on weekends and for special parties. There is also a hidden room for really special people. This is a place to dine when you are not in a hurry, enjoy. A great meal for only $32.80 tip not included. If you go for dinner double the portions and double the prices. So we are walking past Carmines and we stop in for a beer. They are famous for their devil crabs, garbanzo bean soup, cuban sandwiches, black bean soup. We have had these many times over the years and we have never been disappointed. Today we are just there to have a beer. They redid the inside about 3 years ago and it is much nicer, cleaner, and open than it used to be. The bathrooms are still a nightmare so if you go don't have to really go STAY AWAY from the rest rooms. They make the Pressed Cuban sandwiches behind the bar along with the crab rolls, all the other food is prepared in their kitchen in the rear. Full liquor is available. At night time there is band playing and they also set up the outside bar, upstairs the large room can be reserved for private functions or the big Gasparilla Parade viewing. So it's a beer today and out the door we went. We are walking back to the car and pass by a new place, Mema's Alaskan Taco. Now that's an oxymoron if I ever heard. We get there about 2:30 and there is not a soul in the place. Laura the counter girl shows us their tacos. The taco and meat (either beef, chicken, gator, fish, shrimp, or Tofu are pan fried together. We did not have a good experience with the beef as it lacked flavor and spice and was like a rubber hamburger. Bottle beers are $4 and a small taco $2.50 pretty hefty considering that they are on 8th Ave and not 7th or even Alaska for that matter. Their nachos are crispy and cheesy. They must cater to the late night people that can't or don't care what they are eating as long as they are eating. Be forwarned that the only bathroom that they have is around the outside of the building and all the way to the rear. I would definetely plan on escorting your wife or date back there, if it's night time you might want to be packing some heat. The place is clean, even the bathroom. We are gong to go back some day and try all of their varieties of tacos, they have got to be better than that rubber hamburger. So we are driving down 41 when I decide to stop at Starkey's Bar. I have not been in there for 30 years or so. We belly up to the bar and order two Ultras in bottles and Natalie offers cold frosted mugs for them. The place looks good, it has been redone since I was there. Pool tables, stage set up for the weekend bands, It is in a tough area of town and does not look like much from the outside- the word to describe it is seedy- it is a real working man's bar, blue collar and callouses. They have a small package store where they sell booze to go. It is a full liquor bar, martini glasses that get use everyday. There are 10 people in the place but it is Friday and when work lets out you will be shoulder to shoulder. Randy the guy next to me is from Texas and has been working here for a year. His favorite word is fxck, he tells me that he is fxcking from a town of 38,000 fxcking people, that people in fxcking Tampa drink more fxcking beer than they do in fxckingTexas, that we sure do have a lot of fxcking parades, but over fxcking all he likes fxcking Tampa a fxcking lot. Well I tell him it's been fxcking great talking to him but we have to fxcking go, and out the fxcking door we went. Only in Riverview/ Gibsonton. And yes they do smoke inside Starky's, they smoke alot and with the low ceiling it will make even a smoker take notice. We vow to do Showtown, Road House, and Rivers Edge, the trinity of trash. Tim G. called to see if we wanted to do dinner but we are still stuffed from lunch so I tell him next week would be better. We are now home and you probably think that it is time for bed but Dixie is redoing her face, it is 7:30 and we are headed to Dixies Dockside. We get to Dixies and the band Tune Raider is playing. A good old rock and roll band, they do ZZ Top, CCR, classic rock oldies with some Light Blues thrown in, this is my favorite band that Jeff brings to play. The regulars are all there and a bunch of younger newbies seem to be starting to show up, we'll have to see how that works out. It's 10:30 and Spencers big party is tomorrow, so out the door we went. See Ya Brian.