Toast opens, Mr. Dunderbaks on the move

More reasons for me personally to give thanks: Scarcely more than a mile from my house in New Tampa, Toast has opened up at 14921 Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, (813) 632-3105 in the site formerly occupied by Wine & Cigar Stop and Wine Warehouse. Still wine, but now it's a cool tasting bar with super friendly owners. I stopped in in a panic Wednesday evening to grab a couple of no-malolactic, unoaked chardonnays. Got just what I wanted. You can sip by the glass, buy a bottle, or head to the back room to smoke a cigar.

In other exciting news, James Ellis is relocating his Mr. Dunderbaks from the University Mall Tampa. As of Feb. 1, that location will close and he will open up that next week right next door to Toast (above) on Bruce B. Downs in New Tampa. The venerable Dunderbaks has been around for 35 years, Ellis at the helm for the past 10. At this new location, Ellis vows to run the beer properly, bringing in the requisite CO2 and nitrogen, with 50 or so beers on draft and another 400 in bottle. There will be a little gazebo in the center of the restaurant and tables coming from the original Hofbrau House in Germany (get this: he got the historic tables for free), and a menu that he describes as German-inspired American fare. I'm looking forward to trying the venison sausage cooked in German black beer.

Cheap eats on Thanksgiving?

Anyone have great ideas for where to eat out tomorrow inexpensively? I devoted a lot of ink to fancy-pants options and not so much on the cheaper side of things. Dinner under $10, anyone?

In other news, Carrabba's opened yesterday at Tampa International Airport in the main terminal. This is the first Carrabba’s to open in an airport and features traditional menu favorites as well as a new “grab and go” menu.

Metropolitan Ministries in need for holidays

Metropolitan Ministries' Holiday Center is in need, with donations down 20 percent overall. According to president Morris E. Hintzman, they are expecting 1,200 more needy families by Wednesday and 20,000 families over the next 30 days. Here's how to help. Most needed foodstuffs: turkey or gift certificate, mashed potatoes (boxed), canned fruit and yams. If you can't make it to the main campus (2002 N. Florida Ave., Tampa), please volunteer or drop-off your donations at the following locations:

Joining Hands Holiday Center (located at Community United Methodist Church), 3214 U.S. Hwy 19, Holiday.  Mon.-Sat. 10am-7pm, Sun. 1pm-5pm

Plant City Holiday Center (located in the lot of the Ferman Chrysler Jeep Dodge dealership), 1722 S. Collins street, Plant City.  Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-8pm, Sat 9am-7pm

St. James United Methodist Church (donations only), 16202 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., North Tampa.  Mon.-Sun 9am-6pm   11/9-11/25, 12/7-12/23 

Additional drop-off locations include:
AAA locations (Bay area)
Race Trac stations (Bay area)
Ferman dealerships (Bay area)

Volunteer opportunities:
Volunteers and volunteer leaders are still needed, especially during daytime hours. If you are interested in becoming a servant leader, contact Andrea Giovannelli at (813) 209-1251 or andrea.giovannelli@metromin.org. High school students over the age of 14 are encouraged to volunteer (service hours count). Call Marlyne Guillaume at 813-209-1002 or email marlyne.guillaume@metromin.org.

Symon says Irvine was always planning comeback

According to this story in the Cleveland Plain Dealer, written by food and restaurants editor Joe Crea, Michael Symon was always under the impression that his gig on Food Network's "Dinner: Impossible" was a temporary one. Irvine will be restored to his starring role in March, Symon's substitution acting as a smack on Irvine's wrist and a cool-down period for viewers who were outraged at Irvine's autobiographical embroideries, all of which played out on the pages of the St. Petersburg Times in February.

In a statement to the media, Food Network spokeswoman Carrie Welch said, "Our audience has continued to demonstrate its interest in and support for Robert. He has taken responsibility and made a conscious effort to clear the air, rebuild the relationship with Food Network and apologize for the earlier inaccuracies."

Symon indicated that, at least in his mind, "there was a 95 percent chance that he'd be coming back." Despite this turn of events, Symon is satisfied with his other Food Network ventures, from parts on The Next Food Network Star to a major role in Iron Chef: America and other new concepts in development.

Robert Irvine returning to Food Network

Three things, all completely wrong:

First I bring you this: Chef Robert Irvine -- nearly St. Petersburg's own shining knight, were it not for an unfortunate defrocking -- is returning to Food Network's "Dinner: Impossible" series in March. Production on new episodes is starting this month, following an outpouring of viewer demand for the muscle-bound chef. That one leaves me fairly speechless.

Domenica Macchia, the tremendously talented chef at MJs Jazz and Tapas Lounge, (445 99th Ave N., St. Petersburg, 727-329-6600) was let go after service on Saturday evening. Seems the owners had a different vision for the future of the place: more roadhouse, less restaurant. If there's any justice, Macchia will land on her feet somewhere else immediately.

In a similarly bad move, New York magazine has let go of Gael Greene, one of New York City 's most famous food critics. The magazine cites the economy as a reason that four restaurant critics can no longer be supported. Greene was the magazine's chief restaurant critic from 1968 to 2002. After that she wrote a weekly column called "Insatiable Critic."

Restaurant business predictions

Dining out is often considered discretionary spending. The increasingly bleak economic outlook is causing restaurant owners to brace themselves for a very challenging year ahead. Dick Williams, culinary advisor for OPENForum.com, a new small business resource developed by American Express OPEN, is predicting the following trends for restaurant owners for the remainder of 2008 into 2009:

• Business entertaining and corporate parties will continue to be pulled back. Given economic uncertainty in key industries, restaurant owners can expect to see significantly less holiday business. Industry experts report bookings are down about 15 percent for the 2008 holiday season as compared to the same period last year.
• The real estate market will offer relief. The softening of real estate prices and decrease in demand for restaurant sites is benefiting strong restaurant companies. Developers are offering better deals, and while rents have not decreased yet, they are likely to soften in the next year.
• Menu prices will increase. Menu prices increased 4.3 percent in 2008. With food costs expected to increase by 7 to 9 percent in 2009, restaurant owners will pass along costs to diners to maintain margins.
• Currency exchange will weigh on restaurateurs. Many fine-dining restaurants, particularly those in major cities, have benefited from foreign tourists taking advantage of the strength of the Euro and British Pound against the American dollar. While this customer base was strong in 2008, many are concerned that as economic turmoil spreads to the rest of the world, fewer visitors will be coming to the U.S. in 2009.

It's a grape big world

Wine & Cigar Stop (14921 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa) is doing a fun tasting on Friday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. It's a slurpathon in honor of this year's Wine Spectator's top 100 wines list. Really a sneak preview, before the Spectator has released the list to the general public, the shop is uncorking a bunch of the winners that evening. And it's gratis, baby. A good way to pick your Turkey Day quaffs, with a 10 percent discount on mixed cases.

And tonight the Tampa Wine Institute (2009 N. 22nd St., Tampa, (813) 241-8587) hosts a tasting and class at 6 p.m.: “Piedmont vs Tuscany.” Explore the two top wine producing regions in Italy side by side. Barolo & Barbaresco vs Brunello & Chianti. This is a sit-down, round-table format limited to 12 students. Six to eight wines will be served along with fine cheeses from Beaune’s Wine Bar. Cost for the class is $30.

Lean Cuisine recall

Nestle Prepared Foods Co. is recalling three varieties of Lean Cuisine entrees. A recorded message from the company Tuesday said, "Lean Cuisine is taking this action after several consumers recalled finding small pieces of blue plastic material." The Lean Cuisine meals in question are the Pesto Chicken with Bow Tie Pasta, the Chicken Mediterranean and the Chicken Tuscan.

Other Thanksgiving options

Interesting T-Day fact: According to The NPD Group, a leading market research company, only 30 percent of households will actually prepare a turkey on Thanksgiving Day, but 82 percent of consumers eat it. NPD finds that typically two households are the guest of another household on Turkey Day, which amounts to an average of nine people at each Thanksgiving table.

Here are a few other alternatives to cooking the whole thing yourself:

SuperTarget, I kid you not, offers ready-made holiday meals. For only $69.99, a family of 10 can enjoy a Thanksgiving or Christmas feast including a fully-cooked turkey or ham, appetizers, side dishes (stuffing, mashed pot. gravy, green bean casserole, cranberries), dessert and coffee without the hassle or mess of cooking. (They also offers a prime rib Christmas dinner for six for $89.99.). Order by Nov. 23. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Six Tables Tampa is offering Thanksgiving dinner for the first time. Reservations are required and dinner is at 3 p.m. with a single seating for $95 per person plus tax and gratuity. Call (813) 207-0527. The menu includes choices like:

• Potato and Shrimp croquette with Pomegranate syrup
• Gulf Bouillabaisse
• Sweet Potato bisque
• Grilled Endive, Lardons, Black Walnuts, braised Cranberries and Turkey confit with Lavender Honey vinaigrette
• Whole grain Mustard braised Rabbit with soft Polenta
• Grilled Buffalo Strip with Parsley Butter & Chevre Potato au gratin
• Merlot-poached Halibut with Cinnamon couscous
• ½ Duckling with roasted Pears and Chestnut/Butternut dressing
• Butter-roasted Lobster medallions with Blood Orange velouté and Fingerling Potatoes
• Apple Caramel Meringue torte
• Chocolate Charlotte with Raspberry Anglaise

Also, all six Columbia Restaurants in Florida will be open for Thanksgiving and accepting reservations. The traditional Thanksgiving feast including roast Vermont turkey, served with Columbia stuffing, fresh vegetables, whipped potatoes, candied yams, cranberry sauce and giblet gravy. Dinner also includes a choice of soup or salad and a dessert choice of pumpkin pie, Key lime pie, pumpkin flan or flan. The cost is $18.95 for adults and $4.95 for children under 10 and service begins at 11 a.m.

On the other hand, if you really want to cook this year but keep the costs down, here is chef Georges Mokbel's 5-course menu that feeds 10 people for less than $10 per person. Looks pretty good, with a butternut squash and blue cheese salad and a chocolatey bread pudding.

Cupcakes and The Table

The Table is holding its grand opening party this Friday evening, by invitation only. Even if you're not invited, you can head over to 539 Central Ave. in St. Petersburg to sample the retooled menu and meet the new owner, Michael Stewart.

"I've wanted to do a restaurant in St. Petersburg for quite some time," Stewart says. "St. Pete is just booming with new energy and great cuisine. It also has such a cultural sophistication that is bringing people across the Bay. Its downtown area is rapidly growing, and with the addition of major art museums expanding and the infusion of urban living, we hope to give diners the best "Table" in the house--ours."

Cupcake Cupcakes!, a new boutique cupcakery, has opened in the Westchase area of Tampa. The bakery, located at 12219 West Linebaugh Ave., will hold its grand opening on Dec. 12 (think free cupcakes). Baked fresh from scratch daily on site, the cupcakery uses ingredients like Ghirardelli chocolate, Madagascar bourbon vanilla extract, sweet cream butter and organic fruits. They also custom design cupcakes birthdays, weddings, school parties, corporate, religious and special events, and offer local deliver service and overnight shipping.