Fusion Tapas at PiDGin- Yet Another Gastown Hotspot

350 Carrall St
Vancouver BC
604.620.9400

Tastiness Factor: 8/10

Atmosphere: 4.5/5

Service: 4/5

Locavore Approved? YES (website describes their efforts to support local farmers and fisherman, and as a bonus they also support their community through local fundraising initiatives.  Seasonal ingredients including spring vegetables and spot prawns.  Nice selection of local beers)

PidGin has been in the news a lot lately, but not for the reasons they had intended.  It opened in February of this year, and pretty much since the beginning of its short life, it has become the victim of protesters fighting back against the gentrification of the downtown East Side.  Their unfortunate location right across from Pidgeon Park, a favorite hangout of the protesters, makes them a prime target.  While this is no doubt difficult for this new restaurant as they aim to break into the ever-growing Gastown restaurant scene, they are not bowing to the pressure as we found out on our first visit there this past Saturday night. 

PidGin is quite unassuming from the outside, and one might walk right past without noticing it if they didn't know better.  Its black exterior with bars on the door may be interpreted as being uninviting, but I think it adds an element of mystery and intrigue that is in keeping with the whole experience.

PidGin's exterior is a sharp contast to its interior, which is largely done in white with dark undertones.  The lighting, desinged and crafted locally, is very unique with lamps shooting off in all directions overhead.  There is a mix of seating options including booths (very comfortable), bar seating, and both low and high individuals tables.  Although the design is avant-guard and hip, there is quite a relaxed vibe which lends itself well to tapas style dining.  There is obviously lots of attention payed to small details such as the stylish heavy white clipboards on which the menus were presented, the chopstick holders that doubled as a chopstick stand and the chic black envelope for the bill at the meal's end.

Service was friendly and attentive.  Our server was helpful in explaining all of our dining options (a la carte, prix fix, snacks).  Bottles of water (free of charge) were always replaced just as they ran out.  My only small criticism is that the space is quite loud and we had trouble hearing our servers' descriptions of the dishes which was pretty important considering the many different elements on the plates. 

PidGin has a nice beverage list, with a selection of unique cocktails, wine by the bottle and by the glass, beer, sake, sherry and single malts.   We had just gone to The Diamond for drinks beforehand for cocktails so we went with wine and beer.  My hubby was especially happy that they offered an assortment of beers from 49th Parallel Brewing which are made just down the road in East Van.

The food concept at PidGin is a fusion of Japanese, Korean and French.  I found the concept somewhat similar to Bao Bei (read more on this here) but a little lighter on the Asian side.  Although some may argue that the trend of fusion cuisine should be long dead, I think that PidGin pulls it off quite well to create quite a unique dining experience.  With some many new tapas-style restaurants opening in the past few year in the city, I think that PidGin is clever in trying to diversify itself.  The menu is also unique in that it offers a wide variety of dish sizes, from snacks to small plates for one, to small plates for sharing to entree size dishes.  This variety makes it amenable to almost any type of dining experience that one may want.  Snacks and drinks after work, a business meeting, an intimate date, a group of friends- they have it covered.  On the flip side, this may also be a bit confusing, as diners may not know which dishes serve their particular needs on any given night as they are all listed in one large list.  We found the task of sorting this out a bit daunting and therefore we took the lazy way out and ordered the premium prix fixe menu ($55/person) and gave control to the chef to send out whatever he so desired (items change daily).

Oyster shot, apple, horseradish- I am not an oyster fan by any means, but this was about as close as I have come to actually liking one.  Hubby, the oyster expert, really enjoyed it.  The apple grenada was superb and its sweetness was nicely balanced by the zippy horseradish.

Spot prawn ceviche with grapefruit and cilantro- I was super excited to get a spot prawn dish as these little gems are available for only a few weeks a year so I need to get my fill now!  This ended up being one of my faves.  The spot prawns were undeniably the star of the dish with a light sauce that complemented rather than overshadowed them.  The sourness of the grapefruit gave the otherwise mild dish a nice little kick.  The presentation was beautiful.

Beef tartare, wasabi tobiko, miso cream cheese, cucumber- Hubby has had his share of beef taratre and he enjoyed this version.  While if was not the best he has ever tasted, he commented on the smooth texture which was contrasted by crispy tobiko and frozen cucumber (this was cool).  Cream cheese was unexpected but surprisingly worked well with the other elements.  

Rice crackers, sweet soy anchovies- A co-worker had recommended this little snack so I was pleased to receive it as part of our tasting menu.  Unfortunately, it ended up being my least favorite dish.  I found it quite clumsy.  Some of the rice crackers were broken into such small pieces that they could not act as vehicles to get the salty little anchovies to one's mouth, so I was puzzled as to how best to tackle it.  Furthermore, I found the anchovies to have an off-putting texture.   Having said this, hubby had a different opinion and really enjoyed the dish, mostly because of its extreme saltiness.

Parisienne gnocchi, radishes, sorrel- This dish, another of my favorites, was served in a very delicate and pretty manner, and then we were told to had to stir before eating to meld all of the flavors and textures.  The gnocchi were some of the softest and lightest I have ever had.  The thinly sliced radishes were not only beautiful but also added a nice crunchy texture.  The sorrel was the main component in the sauce (what a pretty color!), which was light yet surprisingly complex in flavor.

Mushrooms, sugar snap peas, egg, soy yuzu brown butter-This was the table favorite, ever for the meat eaters!  The egg was wonderfully salty and it paired perfectly with the meaty mushrooms.  The snap peas were super fresh tasting.  Simple in concept, but again a very complex dish that came together just right.  

"Dan dan" kohlrabi noodle salad, tofu, almonds- This was a light dish, with "noodles" made of kohlrabi, which was well placed before the next two entree-sized dish that was next to come. The sauce was a nice mix of salty and sweet.

Scallops, fried polenta, brussel sprouts, XO, caper raisin- Although this dish had some high points, the scallops sadly overcooked (a major no-no in my books).  They did, however, have a nice sear.  The fried polenta was crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside but was a bit dry (could have used a  sauce).  I did quite enjoy brussel sprouts (both leaves and stems) which were brilliantly green and fried to perfection.  All elements were good but there was no real wow factor and the components were not tied together.

Half duck, carrot cake, oranges, spices- This was another table favorite.  There were two different preparations of duck on the plate (confit under sliced duck) and both were succulent.  The portion was very generous.  The carrots which were cooked in duck fat were amazingly tender and flavorful.  The  carrot cake crumble and puree was unique and delicious (tasted just like carrot cake!).  The hint of orange added a welcome lightness to an otherwise heavy dish.  This was a home run.

Meringue, yuzu curd, vanilla, celery- This was, in my opinion, the perfect dessert- light, refreshing, and a great palate cleanser.  The yuzu curd tasted like a more pungeant lemon curd and the vanilla bean creme was amazing (could have eaten a bowl of this!).  The celery was a bit of a throw-away as there was not really enough of it on the plate to have any substantial impact.  Celery excluded, this was really special!

A caution to those who are watching their pennies- PidGin is not a place to go on a budget!  Our meal came to almost $200 when it was all said and done.  Perhaps a bit excessive for the amount of food that you get.

PidGin obviously strives to push the boundaries with unique, unexpected combinations of ingredients prepared using a variety of cooking techniques.  While such complexity has the potential to result in confused and disjointed dishes, I thought that, for the most part, PidGin succeeded in making balanced dishes in which the natural flavors of the ingredients still shone through.  In addition, the atmosphere and the menu is well suited to a variety of different dining experiences, from date to work meeting to a group of friends out for drinks.

Glad to welcome PidGin as another great addition to ever-growing fleet of Gastown foodie destinations!

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Good Food with a View at Cardero's

1583 Coal Harbour Quay  Vancouver, BC V6G 3E7
(604) 669-7666

Tastiness Factor: 8/10

Atmosphere: 4.5/5

Service: 4.5/5

Locavore approved?  YES (most fish on the menu is certified Ocean Wise, they offer a daily market catch, good selection of BC wine and beer)

Cardero's is one of the first restaurants that I went to when I moved to Vancouver 3 years ago.  I discovered it on my first run through Stanley Park and knew that hubby and I had to go there to sit at such a prime location.  Located right on the water in Cole Harbour, with mountains in the background, it could be on a postcard for Vancouver.

I cannot exactly remember the details of our first meal, but with so many other places in Vancouver to dine, we have never gone back until this past week when friends of our came to visit from London, ON.  They were staying at the Westin Bayshore and when I googled the area to remind myself what was around there, Cardero's was the closest hit.  Knowing what an amazing view we would have, and that the food was at least decent from what I could remember, I booked it.  I went in looking forward to great conversation with our friends, but having few other expectations above that.

We had made a reservation for 8:15 and, although there was a bit of confusion at first about where our table was (I think they may have given our seats away) we were guided to the outdoor patio.  This was fine with us, as it was a nice night, the patio is heated and we did not feel like waiting around for another table indoors.  Of note is that this place is busy!  We could not get the time the exact time that I wanted when I called the day of to make a reso, and it was hopping from the time we got there until after we left.

After the small little hiccup with our reservation, the service was excellent.  From the three smiling hostesses at the door, to our very friendly server, we were really made to feel at welcome.  Our hostess recognized that we needed to time to chat after sitting down before we even wanted to open our menus (we had lots to catch up on!) and she gave us a good 10 minutes before coming over to ask us for drink orders and to tell us about the specials.  We did not feel rushed at all.  She knew the menu well and was helpful in giving us informed recommendations when asked.

As mentioned above, the setting outside of Cardero's is breathtaking and guests at the back of the restaurant and the back of the patio have an amazing view of the mountains backdrop.  The inside is quite casual and relaxed while still being refined and smartly decorated, and there is a nice open kitchen. The patio has nice heat lamps at this time of year, and there were even blankets on our seats if we needed to cozy up further.

The drink menu is quite extensive and has a nice selection of BC beers and wines.  The dinner menu is quite casual and offers a nice mix of sharing plates, salads, seafood and grill items such that anyone can find something to suit them.  There is also several dinner specials to choose from, including a daily soup, flatbread and entree.  Here are our dinner choices:

Seared Ahi Tuna- When my husband ordered this, I thought it was an odd choice for him as he does not often order fish for his entree, but he is becoming a big tuna fan.  Fortunately, it ended up being an excellent choice.  The fish was of excellent quality and nicely cooked (seared on the inside, raw on the outside).  It was served with a wasabi soy sauce that was tasty, but the wasabi all seemed to be on one side of the plate resulting in a few bites of wasabi overload (nose burn!!!).   It was served with brocollini and the fact that my husband ate it is a testament to how great it was (wish I could get him to eat this at home!).  It is a good thing that he ate his greens because he then chose to order a side of fries (there was no starch included in the dish) and, although it was not the healthiest choice for him, I was secretely glad that he did because I got to have some!  And they were worth it- plump, crispy wedges with just the right amount of salt. 

Halibut with red wine butter sauce- Our friends both chose the night's market fish special.  The generous portion of halibut was expertly cooked and served in a red wine butter sauce.  While they enjoyed the flavor of the sauce, one of our friends commented that the fish was under-seasoned.  The fish was served with rice (or potato if preferred) and veg.  The multicolor carrots and green beans added a nice pop of color to the plate and were beautifully cooked (still a bit of crunch).  A simple yet well executed dish.

Cardero's Big Salad with Seared Ahi Tuna- This salad is composed of quite a grab bag of ingredients and is certainly enough for a main course, especially when you add a protein on top like I did  (there is quite a selection of meat, poultry and fish as options).  The vegetables were all very fresh and the egg (boiled) and olives added some extra "oomph".  Most restaurants make the mistake of over-dressing their salads and masking the natural flavors of the ingredients but this is certainly not the case here.  One might argue that it was even a bit underdressed.  The tuna that I had added was perfectly seared and was served with its own sauce on the side which I found a bit odd since it was placed onto of the salad.  The sauce was quite nice and I used it to add another layer of flavor to the salad.  Overall, I really enjoyed this and would certainly order it again with the tuna.

Having gone into the evening with not much in the way of expectations, I must say that I was pleasantly surprised with what a great experience we had.  Not only is Cardero's a perfect place to bring  visitors to give them a taste of the Vancouver's beauty, but it is also a great place for locals to enjoy good food while admiring the unrivalled view.  It is sure to make you remember how lucky you to live in such a beautiful city!

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Some Cute Little Finds in the Sunshine State

My parents own a condominium in Madeira Beach, a sleepy little town outside of Tampa.  Hubby and I were fortunate enough to travel down for a visit this past week.  Although this part of Florida is not a foodie destination by any stretch, we did manage to discover some cute little finds along the way. Here are the highlights:

Sweet Sage Cafe

I give credit to my parents for recommending this cute little brunch joint.  The atmosphere is a little quirky but fun, and is a welcome treat from all of the bar/tavern brunch options that seem to be popular in this neck of the woods.  There is lots of outside seating, which is usually perfect for the Florida climate.  The two sides of the restaurant are separated by a little store selling funky little nic nacs.   Service is very friendly.  Dogs VERY welcome here, so much so that they even sell dishes made specifically for dogs that ca be ordered off the "doggie" menu.  I have certainly never seen anything like this before!

The menu (brunch and lunch only) offers a nice variety of dishes to suit all tastes.  From smoothies to egg scrambles to waffles on the breakfast menu, and salads to sandwiches to crab cakes on the lunch menu, there is sure to be something to please everyone.

We arrived at around 11am and were still feeling in the mood for breakfast.  I ordered the Veggie Scrambler (fluffy scrambled eggs loaded with spinach and other fresh veggies, plus parmesan cheese), served with flatbread (think thin hamburger bun) and fresh fruit (my choice of side).  The scrambler was delicious, and the fresh fruit was lovely, but I would have loved some homemade bread to round out the plate.  Hubby had the 4x4 (4 eggs, 4 pieces of bacon, and 4 pieces of french toast)- he devoured it!  My mother enjoyed the California Scramble (guacamole, salsa, bacon, cheese), while my father ate, but did not really enjoy, the Scrambled Crab Benedict (clunky, too many competing flavors, very heavy).

Overall, a very enjoyable meal and a very welcome change from typical Tampa area brunch fare.  Highly recommended:)

The Conche Republic Grill and Raw Bar

While the men went to see the baseball game one evening, my mother and I decided that we would rather stick closer to home for some quality. mother-daughter time.  My mother suggested visiting one of her favourite local spots for dinner, the Conche.  One of the perks of this place is that it is located right off the beach, so we were able to walk with our feet in the water the whole way there.  It was so beautiful on the beach that evening, and the walk was the perfect start to a great night together.

The Conche has a lot of character, both inside and out.  With colourful seats, big umbrellas and a huge outdoor patio and bar, it makes for the perfect setup for a great night out.

Before being seated, we decided to sit at the covered outside bar for a drink and an appie.  I was feeling in a particularly tropical mood so I ordered a refreshing mojito.  My mother followed suit and ordered a sangria.  The bar menu is full of all kinds of treats, many from the sea.  My parents had tried the Fresh Florida Fish Spread (made with smoked amberjack and maui) and said that it was delicious, but I had been yearning for some Florida shrimp, so we ordered a half pound of  A-1-A peel-and-eat shrimp (still not exactly sure what the A-1-A is all about, no one I asked seemed to know).  The shrimp were fresh and meaty, and were served cold with a simple cocktail sauce so that we could really appreciate their flavor.

After we finished our drinks, we decided to move inside for dinner as there was a little chill starting to make its way into the air.  The space was abuzz with happy customers enjoying the vibrant atmosphere.  The room is decorated in a very "Florida-like" manner, with wooden tables and ocean paraphernalia.  Servers are decked out in shorts and t-shirts.  Our server was very friendly and welcoming.

The menu is very seafood-focused, with many fish and shellfish options, prepared in lots of different ways.  There is a large chalkboard with additional daily specials made with the daily catch.  With most entrees, you can choose 2 sides from a list of over 10 choices. Grouper, a white and delicate fish, is big in this neck of the woods, and is something that is not typically found in Vancouver, so I wanted to give it a try.  I ordered it Cajun style (blackened and served with a pineapple-mango salsa) with a side of sweet potato (served with the most decadent cinnamon butter!) and broccoli.  The fish was cooked perfectly and the seasoning gave it a nice kick.  My mother ordered the crab cakes (her favourite!), with sides of sautéed asparagus and sweet potato (she also raved about that yummy butter!).  This is plain, no bells and whistle-type food, but it tasted darn good and we finished every last bite.

After the big meal, out walk back home was just the ticket to help us digest and, more importantly, to make this mother-daughter night last as long as possible.  Living on opposite coasts of this huge country is not conducive to frequent trips to see each other, so every moment we have together is precious.  Our night at the Conche will remain in my heart for a long time, and will give me happy memories to hold onto until out next mother-daughter night.  Plans are already in the works for a whole week in Victoria together in the fall:)

Frida's Cafe and Bakery

Lucky for me, I had some other relatives who were visiting Florida while I was there and we chose to meet up at this cute little local bakery and cafe for lunch together.  

Freida's is a great find, especially for those with a sweet tooth.  They have an incredible selection of baked goods, from fancy cakes, to homemade donuts, to cookies, to pastries, to breads.  You name it and it is there! They also offer gluten free options (a rare find down here, especially compared to Van). For lunch, they also offer quick an expansive menu, including crepes, sandwiches, soups and salads.

It was a gorgeous Florida day so we decided dine outside on the large patio.  Most of us chose a salad and were pleasantly surprised at how big they were!  The Three Berries Chicken Salad came complete with mounds of fresh lettuce, topped with berries and a generous portion of chicken breast.  The Summertime Salad was equally large, and was topped with candied pecans, asiago cheese and chicken.  I chose the Tabouli Salad, one of their newest offerings.  The tabouli itself was a lot more cracked wheat and a lot less parsley than what I am used to, but was tasty nonetheless. It was served with roasted beets (a rather strange choice I thought, but fine with me since I love beets!) and high quality feta cheese.  I enjoyed it very much.  All of the salads, as well as the sandwiches, are accompanied by a delicious piece of coconut bread, which is really more like cake.  Moist with just the perfect amount of sweetness, it made for a delicious little bite to end the meal.

At the end of our lovely meal together, we could not resist ordering a few treats for later.  We picked out the almond raspberry canoe, both a chocolate chip and an oatmeal raisin cookie, a macaroon and a healthy nut bar.  These were all pretty good as well, but I think that the lunch was the real star of the visit.

I would be interested in trying a cake or a doughnut to see how these might stack up.  Maybe next time!

Osaka

Madeira beach is a pretty tiny little town, so when I passed by the local sushi restaurant, I thought that it was likely best to avoid it.  My initial impression was reconfirmed when I walked by its dark and rather dingy exterior.  As the week went on however, I started to wonder if I was perhaps missing out, as every night there was a pile of customers flooding in through the front door, and the parking lot always seemed to be full of cars. Not wanting to miss out on good sushi, I looked at online reviews, all of which were consistently excellent ("best sushi for miles", "fish is so fresh", "dozens of special rolls"). Knowing from past experiences that looks can be deceiving, and that we should never judge a book by its cover, I decided to check it out for myself.  And thank goodness I did!

Although Osaka's exterior is unappealing, its inside is just the opposite. It is quite a large restaurant, complete with a large sushi bar (10-12 seats) as well as individual tables.  All of the employees that I saw were Japanese, the decor was typical of a traditional Japanese sushi restaurant and the place was absolutely spotless.  It was like I had walked off the beach in Florida and had somehow been transported to downtown Tokyo.  Not at a what I had expected, but a very pleasant surprise.

Osaka's menu is several pages long and, in addition to the standard raw sushi and sashimi, it offers many cooked options for sushi "beginners" or those turned off by raw fish.  There is also a giant sized-page of "special rolls" with every ingredient combination that you could possibly dream of.  Special sauces, different textural elements (tempura, roe, etc) and many fish combinations, one of these rolls could easily fill you up.  I saw some coming off the sushi bar and they looked amazing (beautiful presentation). Because I was just ordering for myself and was taking it to go, I opted instead for a combo of my favourite sushi bar eats, including edamame, seaweed salad and, well, sushi of course! I chose the Sushi Appetizer, which included a California roll and 4 pieces of sushi (salmon, tuna, white fish and crab) and was quite a steal for under $10. The fish was fresh and delicious (large pieces, no skimping!) and the rice was prepared perfectly.  My dad, who has is certainly now branching out from his prior "meat and potatoes" self, also now quite enjoys sushi.  While he does like raw fish in small amounts, he prefers it cooked, so the Smoked Salmon Roll (smoked salmon, cucumber and cream cheese) was perfect for him.  He loved it and after the last bite, said it was the best sushi he had ever had.

So whatever you do, do not make the same mistake as me and be so quick to judge this  fantastic sushi spot based on its exterior alone.  This is quite an unexpected find in Madeira Beach which should not be missed by sushi lovers, and with all of its cooked options, it is also a great introduction to sushi for those who are not yet on the sushi bandwagon.  A must-try!

Brew...Mostly

This little coffee shop, located just down the road from my parent's condo, was the daily stop for my morning caffeine fix.  Since I visited in March 2012, the shop has changed owners, changed names and changed its vibe.  Luckily, all of this change has been for the better.  There has been a switch to organic, fair trade and locally brewed coffee and its baked goods are made by a chef who uses mostly local ingredients.  They are open until 9pm on Friday and Saturday, and they have a decent selection of beer including many local varieties.  Service is very homey and friendly, and by the end of my week, I felt as though I had been a customer there for years.

On my first morning, I tried their coffee and it was a tad weak for me so the next morning I ordered an almond milk latte (yes, they have almond milk and soy milk!) that was delicious.  On subsequent mornings, I alternated between the latte and an americano and both were consistently good.

Over the course of the week, I also enjoyed some of their food offerings, including a greek yogurt parfait with fresh fruit, homemade granola (made right in the store) and local honey (impressive!).  It was very delicious!  I also brought home some cookies for hubby and my parents, including a chocolate expresso cookie (my husband was quite impressed at how good this was!), a macaroon for my mom and an oatmeal raisin nut cookie for my dad.  They all seemed fresh and very enjoyed by all.

I must say that this little place really surprised me.  Just like Osaka, do not be fooled by its rather unassuming exterior as there is lots of good stuff awaiting you inside!

 

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Local Florida Cuisine at Boca

901 W Platt St  Tampa, FL 33606
(813) 254-7070

Tastiness Factor: 9/10

Service: 4/5

Atmosphere: 4.5/5

Locavore approved? MOST DEFINITELY! (local farms and the ingredients they supply to the restaurant are broadcast on a large chalkboard outside of the restaurant.  They also have a "market" inside that is basically a counter where you can buy locally sourced meats, eggs, fruits and a few preserves.  This is the real deal!

My parents have a condo in Madeira Beach, Florida and we are now enjoying a great week of relaxation and quality time with them here in the Sunshine state.  Florida is known for may great things including its balmy weather, sandy beaches and, of course, Disneyland.  What it is not so well known for is its dining scene.  Although there is lots of fresh fish available, restaurants in this neck of the woods are generally more about quantity than quality.

But then there is Boca.  This locally-sourced restaurant is located in Tampa's Hyde Park district, a very pretty neighborhood with old houses and a beautiful boardwalk.  The building is actually an old garage and gas station, and many of its elements have been restored.  The space is rustic, with lots of character and charm.  The seating arrangement with booths, chairs as well as a bar allows for good conversation, and the herb "flowers" decorating each table are a nice touch:)

Service is laid back, yet attentive.  Our server was able to accurately tell us details of all of the dishes that we inquired about.  Both our appetizers and mains were delivered in good time, and our server returned several times to ask if we wanted extra rounds of drinks.

There is a unique cocktail menu, and I highly encourage you to try one.  You will not find your typical margarita or mojito here.  Instead, the cocktails are made of ingredients that you would not usually associate with a cocktail, such as ginger, grilled peaches, graham cracker crust, etc. etc.  I had the Huckleberry hound, complete with vodka, blueberries, lime and ginger.  This was my perfect cocktail- not too sweet and refreshing.  My husband had a rum-based cocktail with apple that was also complex in flavor and very smooth.  Do not leave Boca without trying one of these fresh concoctions!

The food menu offers tasting plates that are great for sharing, as well as a good selection of salads, mains and desserts.  There is a good mix of meat and seafood, but a little lacking in the vegetarian department.  Aside from that, all tastes should be able to find something that suits their palate.  Here is rundown of our choices:

Boca-dito tasting- We were feeling like a nice appetizer to nosh on with our drinks, and, when I saw this sharing tasting plate, I was sold.  The tasting plate is made up of 3 different types of bruschetta that is perfect for sharing.  And believe me, this is not your run-of-the-mill tomato bruschetta.  The three very original varieties include: strawberry-mango jam, chevre, plum and honey; butternut squash hummus, radish, cranberry and micro greens; parsnip puree, caramelized onion, pear, prosciutto and mustard greens.  Are these flavor combinations just wild!  Although they were all delicious, I would have to say that my fave was the the plum and goat cheese bruschetta (I am such a sucker for goat cheese, especially when it is local and fresh!) but I did also really enjoy the saltiness of the prosciutto on the pear bruschetta and the wonderfully tart poached cranberries on the the final option. I would HIGHLY recommend this as a starter, as it will really set the stage for the great food that is to follow.

Seared Diver Scallops a l'Orange- I really struggled in deciding what to order as there were multiple choices on the menu that enticed me including the Market Fish of the Day (swordfish with edamame and sweet potato), yellow fin tuna with moroccan vegetables, and the shrimp and orzo salad.  In the end, I asked the server her recommendation and when she told me that the seared scallops were her favorite menu item, I decided to go for those.  And thank goodness I did!  The scallops were among the best I have ever had- large, perfectly seared outside, just-cooked inside, with a subtle taste of butter, then lightly covered in a light and understated orange sauce.  The scallops themselves would have made me rave, but the chef went a step further and served them with creamy dollops of celery root puree, and roasted beet.  This was a spectacular dish, both in terms of conception and execution.  I would go so far as to call it one of my favorite dishes of 2013 so far.

OMG Prime House Burger- My husband, the burger connaisseur, chose this as his entree.  The fries were fantastic (I must admit, I stole my fair share off his plate so I should know!).  They were hot and perfectly crispy, and very topped with sea salt, truffle oil and parmesan.  Heaven.  His burger, while good, was not quite as well received, as he found it to be a little underdone.  In fairness, he was asked how he wanted his burger cooked, and he chose to leave it to the chef's discretion.  If you do order the burger, be sure to ask for it medium if you are not a fan of too much red in your burger.  And be sure you are hungry.  This is one big hunk of meat!

Napas and Salinas Flatbread- My mother loves pizza, and when she saw the table next to us sharing one of Boca's flatbreads as an appie, she had to have one!  She chose the Napas and Salinas, which was topped with a lovely onion jam, grapes, goat cheese, and a mound of arugula.  The flavors meshed very well atop the crispy, thin crust.  It was an absolute steal for $12!  Although my mother enjoyed it , she did find it a bit too much of the same flavor after eating the whole thing and therefore I would recommend this as a sharing plate moreso than a main.

Prime Smoked Meatloaf- My dad is a "meat and potatoes" guy, so this dish was perfect for him.  The portion of meatloaf was very generous, and he really enjoyed the unique, smokey flavor.  This is not your mother's meatloaf!  It was topped with smoked gravy and sat atop a mound of parsnip mashed potatoes.  He says that the cob of corn served on the side was "the best he has ever had".  This is a must-order for all carnivores!

What a wonderful experience we had at Boca.  Unlike many Florida restaurants, Boca favors quality over quantity by showcasing sustainable ingredients grown by local farmers, and knows how to combine the ingredients into refined and well-executed dishes.  Boca is certainly way above any other restaurant that I have been to in Tampa and its surrounding area, and I highly recommend it to anyone who knows a thing or two about what good food actually is.  It is places like Boca that will one day put Florida on the foodie map.

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