Tropical Smoothie opening in Largo on Sat.

Another Tropical Smoothie grand opening this Saturday, August 1 at 1001 West Bay Drive, Largo. Free Jetty Punch Smoothies to the first 100 customers and a huge drawing to win a brand new Wii game system.

Earliest food memories

I have a gift. It’s of dubious value in any job other than the one I have. I remember meals, dishes, what people ordered. On my own wedding day, I barely remember who I talked to, what the readings were and what music played (alright, the processional was “Here Comes the Sun.” Cheesy, but true.). But I remember grilled lamb with fig tapenade, fillet of red snapper with mojo verde, filo triangles with portobello mushrooms and goat cheese (sadly, not as good as they sounded) and, for dessert, spiced nut cake with white chocolate buttercream (a little dry).

It’s all in there, crowding out state capitals, the chronology of American presidents and lots of basic algebra. But I started thinking about my earliest food memory. How far back can I go? And this is what I came up with.

A camping trip (the only kind of trip my impoverished grad student-hippie parents took), heading up to Gold Rush country in an old sky-blue Dodge called Captain America. It’s dawn, I’m sprawled across some of the backseat, my baby brother is actually in a playpen my parents have rigged somehow in the back. No seatbelts in sight, but hey, it’s the ‘70s. I’m vaguely aware of the flatulent engine noise ceasing, then after a few minutes of silence, the smell of cinnamon rolls filling the car. They seemed big-as-your-head (but, also given that it was the ‘70s, they probably would be dwarfed by today’s Cinnabons), sticky with white icing, each segment peeling away to reveal a moister, more cinnamony inner segment, the center eye so sweet, so cinnamony that it’s almost painful to eat. Afterward, the fingers each get licked, then wiped surreptitiously across the flagging interior of the old Dodge.

On that same trip we went to a ghost town. In the gift shop, my six-year-old eyes fell upon a package of old-fashioned licorice candies. Black centers flanked by neon-pink nougat, little black gummy centers completely studded with tiny purple beads of sugar. Shiny coils like perfect black snakes. I had to have them. Indulged, we loaded back into Captain America and I had the crushing disappointment of licorice’s tar-and-rubber venom.

OK, dear reader, tell me of your earliest food memories.

Fly Bar turns three tomorrow

And it's throwing itself a party. There's live music from The Hip Abduction and Soft Rock Renegades, and from 5:30 p.m. to 3 a.m. there are $3 drink and food specials, giveaways and what they're calling "crunkness and foolery." Hard to pass that up. 1202 N. Franklin St., Tampa; (813) 275-5000.

Corey Avenue wingding Friday

St. Pete Beach's Corey Avenue has a fun way to beat the summer heat on Friday from 5 to 8 p.m. Taste a variety of citrus wines from Florida Orange Groves Winery, wear a ‘cool’ tropical shirt for a contest, win prizes in a tropical scavenger hunt, listen to live music, shop, dine and top off the evening with a show at the Beach Theatre.  

French Laundry's Thomas Keller eats at Cafe Ponte

To go along with this story, I thought you'd all get a kick out of seeing the evening's menu, complete with Thomas Keller's scrawl.

Island Way Grill makes it big with Wine Spectator

Bill Norris, the general manager and wine director at the Island Way Grill in Clearwater Beach, just let me know this great news: The restaurant's wine list has been awarded the "Two-Glass" Best of Award of Excellence for 2009 by Wine Spectator. They have been working toward this goal for several years, and the efforts have finally paid off. Here's a link to their wine list.

Congratulations to Norris and staff--it's a tremendous achievement. Makes me kind of thirsty.... 

Carrabba’s Italian Grill “Mix it up for MDA” Event

Carrabba's is doing a benefit for the Muscular Dystrophy Association on Thursday from 5 p.m. to close. For $15 per person, guests get a sampling of four food items from the new Mr. C’s Bar Menu and, for guests 21 years and older, one of three signature cocktails (Blackberry Lemonade, the Italian Lemon Drop or Blackberry Fields Martini) or another drink on the Mr. C’s list. In addition to monies raised from event admission, Carrabba’s also will donate $1 to MDA for each of the three signature drinks sold from July 30 to  August 6.

If you can't make the event, try making one of the cocktails at home.
 

Chipotle sponsors screenings of Food, Inc.

Chipotle Mexican Grill is sponsoring free screenings of the documentary film “Food, Inc.” The food industry exposé draws attention to the nation’s compromised food supply and encourages Americans to become more conscious consumers. It's Thursday evening at the Tampa Theatre, 711 N. Franklin St., Tampa. Visit here for details. Tickets will be issued on a first come, first served basis.

McDonald's items around the world

OK, maybe it's just late, but don't some of these seem crazy-time? It's things on the menu at McDonald's around the world. Wow, stupidity is universal. That's the "My Poutine" from Canada. Mmm, french fries topped with cheese curds and gravy.

Anna Maria Island restaurants get some love

Kudos to Beach Bistro, Sand Bar, Sign of the Mermaid, etc. on Anna Maria. There was this great travel story about the island's restaurants in the New York Times yesterday. A lot of enthusiasm for grouper sandwiches at the ole' paper of record, it appears. It's good to see Beach Bistro getting some national recognition, even if the author took a pot shot at the website's Vivaldi "Four Seasons" soundtrack.

[h/t to Peter]