TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

A Taste Of The Stew

ADVERTISEMENT

By JEFF HOUCK | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 15, 2008

YEAR OF BACON: Few people know this, but the pig we know and love today came to North America through Tampa Bay. Yes, we have Hernando DeSoto to thank for dragging his porkers across the Atlantic so we could enjoy the crispy goodness of Porky with our breakfasts, BLTs and spinach salads.

That being said, The Stew is on record: 2008 is Year of the Bacon. There will be no discussion of its merits. They stand on their own. We may even drag it into 2009, if the need becomes acute.

Toward celebrating that declaration, we'll provide ongoing coverage online of the year's most culturally significant bacon events and trends.

Featured on the blog at the moment:

The bacon burger made by churning a pound of bacon through a sausage grinder before dipping it in batter and serving it on a bun. (It was tastefully served with a glass of Shiner Bock and fried jalapeños.)

A model house constructed only of sausage links and a bacon-strip roof.

A cross-stitch of a pig adorned with the words: "The Candy of Meats."

A how-to video showing commercial bacon production.

Have a favorite bacon moment you want to share? Join the celebration by shooting me an e-mail at jhouck@tampatrib.com.

FROM STARBUCKS TO IKEA: In July, I interviewed comedian Mark Malkoff about his attempt to visit every Starbucks in Manhattan, N.Y., in a 24 hour period. He was so fun, we recorded the conversation for a Table Conversations podcast.

Now it appears that Malkoff has moved on from 'Bucks to Ikea: "The Daily Show" staffer moved into an Ikea showroom in suburban New Jersey this month while his New York City apartment was being fumigated for cockroaches. He did this with the store's consent.

"The fact that Ikea is letting me do this is mind-boggling," Malkoff told The Associated Press while lounging on a bed in his new room. "There's no way I'm going back. I love this way too much."

MORE POLLO: Coming to Oldsmar in February: a new Pollo Tropical grilled chicken restaurant. The outlet, at 6276 W. Waters Ave., will be the 79th in Florida and the third in the Bay area. (The others are on Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa and Park Boulevard in Pinellas Park.) Featuring Caribbean and Latin recipes for chicken, roast pork and seafood, the chain has expanded in recent years to include individual platters and catering services.

A tip: If you like spicy hot sauce, try the salsa picante on the condiment bar. The restaurants also sell it by the bottle. One drop goes a long way.

MY BAD ON GOODY GOODY: A couple of weeks back I reported that the Goody Goody Burger recipe was being served at Pine Grove Restaurant, but I gave the incorrect address. The restaurant is at 9399 N. Florida Ave., Tampa. Tell Theoni we said, "Hi."

Hungry for more? Read Jeff

Houck's food blog, The Stew, at keyword: Stew.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT