Brunch WithThe Queen

Next time you head to St Pete for a Rays game or concert at Tropicana Field, forget the over-priced stadium food and try the Queen's Head Restaurant and Eurobar on Central Avenue. It's a good 25 minute walk from the park, a 5 minute drive or a leisurely 50-cent Trolley ride. Pick up the west bound Trolley on Central Ave in front of the popular sports bar, Ferg's. (The Trolley also goes downtown for waterfront dining options.)

The Queen's Head is housed in an old gas station, made chic with South Beach style Cabana's on the front patio. Inside, the decor is a bit cheeky with busts, photos and bobble heads of the Queen Mum everywhere. The bathroom walls are plastered with bawdy headlines and clips from British Tabloids. The owners, British of course, are great hosts.

I'm a fan of Sunday Brunch at the Queen's Head and have been there several times.When we showed up a few weeks ago, DJ Craig Dirty was spinning cool tunes outside, with a cigarette dangling from his mouth.; looking a bit weary from the night before.

Sparing the server from multiple trips to our table, we bypassed the $6 Mimosa's and $7 Bloody Mary's in lieu of a bottle of delicious Cava (sparkling wine from Spain) for only $22. It was a great accompaniment to the myriad of flavors that followed.

My favorite brunch dish is the Bubble & Squeak ($10); a veggie stuffed mashed potato pancake full of flavor, topped with an egg and garnished with a spicy southwestern drizzle. A close second is the Chip Butty ($11); cherywood bacon with a fried egg, English chips and red cabbage slaw in a toasted ciabatta. I asked for extra slaw.

The brunch menu changes on occasion, I did not see the Bloody Mary Eggs Benedict  this time but I remember it being delicious, especially with a Bloody Mary to wash it down with. The Beans On Toast is a fabulously filling plate. The traditional British breakfast takes on a twist with the addition of white cheddar, English sausage and scrambled eggs ($12). I think the Queen would approve.
            

 ***COMMENTS: Thanks to all my Facebook friends for posting so many great comments. I would LOVE it if you could also post your comments here on this blog site. I've had dozens of people tell me they posted and it never showed up. Disappointing for us both. So click comment, type your comment, check the box that says "comment as" then hit post. If a word verification box does not appear next (a scrambled word to retype), your comment did not post. Thanks!

Serengeti Safari

Last time I was at Busch Gardens in Tampa it was to preview and experience the new Cheetah Hunt, a high-speed, triple-launch roller coaster that has everyone talking.

The cheetah called for my return. So did the media office, to take a Serengeti Safari. A train goes around it, a sky-ride goes over it but the jeep Safari goes right through the 65-acre Serengeti Plain. We stood in the back of an open truck with our guide, checking out free the roaming ostrich, antelope, rhinos, zebras and other African animals.

The highlight of the Safari was the giraffes. The tall, beautiful creatures surrounded our truck and dropped their long necks down, looking for treats. Those big, dark eyes and long eyelashes made us fall in love instantly. As our guide educated us on the animals, we feed them lettuce and rubbed their necks. They in turn, drooled their appreciation all over us.

Busch Gardens also offers a Serengeti Night Safari. After the park closes you get to stay, observe the animals through night-vision monoculars and spend time around a fire pit . Appetizers and "adult beverages" are provided before the tour; dessert and coffee afterwards. This looks like a really cool experience.

Something to take advantage of  if you are a Florida resident; a free daytime Serengeti Safari with your park admission, now through December 15.

By the way, I DID ride the Cheetah Hunt again; front row. This time I was brave enough to let go of the harness and put my hands up like a TRUE coaster fanatic.

***COMMENTS: Thanks to all my Facebook friends for posting so many great comments. I would LOVE it if you could also post your comments here on this blog site. I've had dozens of people tell me they posted and it never showed up. Disappointing for us both. So click comment, type your comment, check the box that says "comment as" then hit post. If a word verification box does not appear next (a scrambled word to retype), your comment did not post. Thanks!

Fine Time at "209"

Last time I visited Punta Gorda (FL), I tried a new restaurant called Opus. An enthusiastic German lady named Ines, was instrumental in helping to get it off the ground, while at the same time running her own   downtown restaurant; Table 209. Her mission complete, Ines is back at 209 full time.

My co-worker had dined there for lunch and couldn't wait to try dinner. When it comes to checking out restaurants it doesn't take much to twist my arm. The outdoor patio looked inviting but the weather wasn't, so we sat at one of the three tables situated in a semi-private section indoors. Our server suggested we begin with a signature Cucumber Champagne Cocktail. It's hard to say no to the bubbles.

However, it was a rainy, dreary night and what I really wanted was a dirty martini. Table 209 only serves beer and wine. The cucumber seemed more suited for the patio, on a warm afternoon. It was good but it just wasn't doing the trick and our server could tell. She grabbed a wine list and removed the cucumber cocktails with a wink, assuring us they would not go to waste; it was her favorite libation.

Settling on a bottle of Mars Venus Cabernet from Chile, we next set our sites on the appetizer menu. The Tomato Soup was rich, with roasted bell pepper, basil pesto and small chunks of mozzarella; just what the doctor ordered.

Next up was the Shrimp Fraiche. It came in a delectable garlic, lemon, butter and sour cream sauce that required extra bread to sop up; so did the next two dishes. The tender Escargot was cooked in white wine, garlic and bacon. Just when I thought the sauces couldn't get any better, the Mussels showed up. They were plump and mild, cooked perfectly in a broth that many patrons ask to purchase for home; white chocolate, coconut milk, garlic and spices. I'm salivating just thinking about it.

The appetizers ranged in price from $6-$12. Next time I'll try to order only one so I can have a proper main course. On second thought, next time I'll try the Sunday Jazz Brunch on the patio, with a Cucumber Champagne Cocktail. The Brunch menu looked fabulous. I'll keep you posted!




***COMMENTS: Thanks to all my Facebook friends for posting so many great comments. I would LOVE it if you could also post your comments here on this blog site. I've had dozens of people tell me they posted and it never showed up. Disappointing for us both. So click comment, type your comment, check the box that says "comment as" then hit post. If a word verification box does not appear next (a scrambled word to retype), your comment did not post. Thanks!