It was a night of wine, Chicken Parmesan, cannoli and wonderful Italian restaurant smells Friday night in Oldsmar as I checked out the new Mandola's Italian Kitchen.  I haven't had a chance to check out the Tampa or Riverview locations yet, but word spread fast in Oldsmar about this opening.  Thanks to Shawn Tegtmeyer and the staff for inviting us over to check out their creations! Let's eat! 

It was a night of wine, Chicken Parmesan, cannoli and wonderful Italian restaurant smells Friday night in Oldsmar as I checked out the new Mandola's Italian Kitchen.  I haven't had a chance to check out the Tampa or Riverview locations yet, but word spread fast in Oldsmar about this opening.  Thanks to Shawn Tegtmeyer and the staff for inviting us over to check out their creations! Let's eat!

Devouring the 813 and 727 one neighborhood at a time. #GenoAteTampa began as a hashtag so I could quickly point listeners to places I've recommended on my Tampa radio show and social media channels.  Now, "Geno Ate Tampa" has become the chronicles of my never-ending quest for great burgers, sweet and sour chicken, buffalo wings, fajitas, chicken parmesan, pizza, apple pastries, cheesesteak, grouper nuggets, french fries, lobster rolls and ice cream in the Tampa Bay area.  And that's just what I have for breakfast.

Devouring the 813 and 727 one neighborhood at a time. #GenoAteTampa began as a hashtag so I could quickly point listeners to places I've recommended on my Tampa radio show and social media channels.&nbsp; Now, "Geno Ate Tampa" has become the chronicles of my never-ending quest for great burgers, sweet and sour chicken, buffalo wings, fajitas, chicken parmesan, pizza, apple pastries, cheesesteak, grouper nuggets, french fries, lobster rolls and ice cream in the Tampa Bay area.&nbsp; And that's just what I have for breakfast.

Devouring the 813 and 727 one neighborhood at a time.

Geno Ate Tampa

Chicken Parmesan, Wine, Meatballs, Gelato and Cannoli at Mandola's Italian Kitchen in Oldsmar

Pizza is on everyone's mind lately because Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports was recently in Tampa trying different pizza places.  Among the ones he tried was my favorite spot for the best pizza in Florida: Cristino's in Clearwater.  I don't know what score Portnoy gave Cristino's, but it got me in the mood for a Margarita with extra sauce because I hadn't dropped by in a while.

When I pulled in, there were dozens waiting for a table.  That's always a good sign.  I posted the photo on my Instagram and Facebook of everyone waiting in the parking lot and mentioned that these people don't need Dave Portnoy's endorsement.  They know Cristino's Pizza is worth the wait.  In the comments, most listeners backed me up - but a few instead suggested other pizzas.  And that's where I made my crucial mistake.

There's nothing worse than getting your hopes up about trying a new pizza someone is raving about... and the pizza is just underwhelming.  I made the big mistake I don't often make yesterday.  In those comments, a listener suggested a popular pizza spot in Largo that I had never tried.  I'd heard of it and initially I thought I'd even tried it.  But when I looked them up online, I realized I had not been there... and since I was in the area yesterday, I dropped by.  After 4 or 5 bites, I got angry with myself.  I broke my rule.  I forgot to ask the guy who recommended this place 2 important questions before I took his suggestion seriously.

Pizza is on everyone's mind lately because Dave Portnoy from Barstool Sports was recently in Tampa trying different pizza places.  Among the ones he tried was my favorite spot for the best pizza in Florida: Cristino's in Clearwater.  I don't know what score Portnoy gave Cristino's, but it got me in the mood for a Margarita with extra sauce because I hadn't dropped by in a while.
When I pulled in, there were dozens waiting for a table.  That's always a good sign.  I posted the photo on my Instagram and Facebook of everyone waiting in the parking lot and mentioned that these people don't need Dave Portnoy's endorsement.  They know Cristino's Pizza is worth the wait.  In the comments, most listeners backed me up - but a few instead suggested other pizzas.  And that's where I made my crucial mistake. There's nothing worse than getting your hopes up about trying a new pizza someone is raving about... and the pizza is just underwhelming.  I made the big mistake I don't often make yesterday.  In those comments, a listener suggested a popular pizza spot in Largo that I had never tried.  I'd heard of it and initially I thought I'd even tried it.  But when I looked them up online, I realized I had not been there... and since I was in the area yesterday, I dropped by.  After 4 or 5 bites, I got angry with myself.  I broke my rule.  I forgot to ask the guy who recommended this place 2 important questions before I took his suggestion seriously.

The Cristino's Pizza Question I Forgot To Ask

The Florida State Fair opens February 8 and runs through February 19th at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. It’s that time of year when it’s time to finally do away with those New Year’s resolutions. Counting calories is strictly forbidden and carbs are king. This year, there are the usual things on the menu like cotton candy, popcorn, deep fried Twinkies, pizza, turkey legs and fried dough. And there’s no fair in Florida where you won’t find gator nuggets for the adventurous eater.

For those with a sweet tooth, there are some creative new items to hunt down. I will definitely find the Oreo Cookie Cinnamon Bun that Cinnamon Saloon is serving up this year. What an awesome combination of words. And with the Barbie movie being so popular, Paulette’s Food Service has created the Barbie Funnel Cake. It’s got pink icing, powdered sugar and various kinds of sprinkles.

But how about those really weird fair foods? The ones that you dare someone to try. There are always a handful of strange, weird and cringeworthy creations at the Florida State Fair. 2024 will be no different. Pickles are being incorporated into pizza and Pop Rocks. For those who love doughnut burgers, there’s the next level with honey buns and cheese curds. And Mama Jane, famous for her creations on the cable TV show Carnival Eats is back with a new savory funnel cake that is a big departure from the usual.

Let’s dive in. Here are the 5 oddest fair foods that’ll raise your eyebrows when you wander around the 2024 Florida State Fair. Then you can see more things on the Florida State Fair menu that sound a bit more appealing if you’re not the type that dips your dill pickle in chocolate.

The Florida State Fair opens February 8 and runs through February 19th at the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa. It’s that time of year when it’s time to finally do away with those New Year’s resolutions. Counting calories is strictly forbidden and carbs are king. This year, there are the usual things on the menu like cotton candy, popcorn, deep fried Twinkies, pizza, turkey legs and fried dough. And there’s no fair in Florida where you won’t find gator nuggets for the adventurous eater.
For those with a sweet tooth, there are some creative new items to hunt down. I will definitely find the Oreo Cookie Cinnamon Bun that Cinnamon Saloon is serving up this year. What an awesome combination of words. And with the Barbie movie being so popular, Paulette’s Food Service has created the Barbie Funnel Cake. It’s got pink icing, powdered sugar and various kinds of sprinkles.
But how about those really weird fair foods? The ones that you dare someone to try. There are always a handful of strange, weird and cringeworthy creations at the <a href="https://floridastatefair.com/fair/food/">Florida State Fair</a>. 2024 will be no different. Pickles are being incorporated into pizza and Pop Rocks. For those who love doughnut burgers, there’s the next level with honey buns and cheese curds. And Mama Jane, famous for her creations on the cable TV show Carnival Eats is back with <a href="https://myq105.com/2023/11/13/mama-jane-reveals-her-2024-desserts-for-the-florida-strawberry-festival-state-fair/">a new savory funnel cake</a> that is a big departure from the usual.
Let’s dive in. Here are the 5 oddest fair foods that’ll raise your eyebrows when you wander around the 2024 Florida State Fair. Then you can see more things on the Florida State Fair menu that sound a bit more appealing if you’re not the type that dips your dill pickle in chocolate.

The 2024 Florida State Fair Foods Menu

Kelly’s Roast Beef is a landmark in the Boston area just as much as the Freedom Trail and Boston Tea Party ship. Boston isn’t known for its beaches. And for good reason. They’re nothing like ours. First of all, there are about 3 months of actual beach weather in New England if you’re lucky. The quality of them is quite low too. BUT Kelly’s on Revere Beach is iconic, serving up roast beef sandwiches and seafood for over 70 years now. There are now a bunch of Kelly’s locations in the Boston area. There’s even one in New Hampshire. But when they opened in Florida, I was shocked.

It must be going well for Kelly’s Roast Beef because now they have as many restaurants in Florida as they do in Massachusetts and New Hampshire combined. They are at the Gateway Shoppes in Naples, Creekside Commons in Parrish, Cypress Woods in Fort Myers and University Park in Sarasota. I’d been meaning to visit one, but I don’t visit any of those areas often. So when I heard their newest location in St. Pete opened, I finally made a trip.

According to the Kelly’s Roast Beef website, everything on the menu is made fresh. It may appear to be another fast food joint. They even have a drive thru. But Kelly’s is definitely a step up in quality, but also in price. The roast beef sandwiches are what made them famous. But what I think will set them apart in Florida is their New England seafood. There aren’t many places in the Tampa area where you can get a legit New England lobster roll.

So how does a Florida Kelly’s location measure up against the original? I’ll do my best to compare the experience. Truth be told, I didn’t go to Kelly’s often when I lived up north. Roast beef isn’t one of the foods I often crave. And while I do like a lobster roll in the summer when I visit family in Maine, I usually pass on them otherwise. They’re expensive and really don’t fill you up much. So my plan when I got to the Kelly’s in St. Pete was to stick with their traditional roast beef sandwich.

Kelly’s Roast Beef is a landmark in the Boston area just as much as the Freedom Trail and Boston Tea Party ship. Boston isn’t known for its beaches. And for good reason. They’re nothing like ours. First of all, there are about 3 months of actual beach weather in New England if you’re lucky. The quality of them is quite low too. BUT Kelly’s on Revere Beach is iconic, serving up roast beef sandwiches and seafood for over 70 years now. There are now a bunch of Kelly’s locations in the Boston area. There’s even one in New Hampshire. But when they opened in Florida, I was shocked.
It must be going well for Kelly’s Roast Beef because now they have as many restaurants in Florida as they do in Massachusetts and New Hampshire combined. They are at the Gateway Shoppes in Naples, Creekside Commons in Parrish, Cypress Woods in Fort Myers and University Park in Sarasota. I’d been meaning to visit one, but I don’t visit any of those areas often. So when I heard their newest location in St. Pete opened, I finally made a trip.
According to the Kelly’s Roast Beef <a href="https://kellysroastbeef.com/revere-beach/">website,</a> everything on the menu is made fresh. It may appear to be another fast food joint. They even have a drive thru. But Kelly’s is definitely a step up in quality, but also in price. The roast beef sandwiches are what made them famous. But what I think will set them apart in Florida is their New England seafood. There aren’t many places in the Tampa area where you can get a legit New England lobster roll.
So how does a Florida Kelly’s location measure up against the original? I’ll do my best to compare the experience. Truth be told, I didn’t go to Kelly’s often when I lived up north. Roast beef isn’t one of the foods I often crave. And while I do like a lobster roll in the summer when I visit family in Maine, I usually pass on them otherwise. They’re expensive and really don’t fill you up much. So my plan when I got to the Kelly’s in St. Pete was to stick with their traditional roast beef sandwich.

Chicken Parmesan, Wine, Meatballs, Gelato and Cannoli at Mandola's Italian Kitchen in Oldsmar

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