Interview with Tim Zagat

I enjoyed Zagat's answers to restaurant industry questions posed by Jennifer Mastroianni for a story on CantonRep.com. Here are the best ones:

Q. From your perspective, how is the restaurant industry doing in the present economy?

A. It’s doing less well than in the heyday of 2005 to 2007, but it’s doing better than most people may imagine. There are more openings of restaurants than closings this year. Of course, people are very price-sensitive. They are going to less-expensive restaurants, and the $100 bottle of wine is history, maybe the $70 bottle, too. People are more careful. But the fact is we still have stomachs and throats and need to eat. And some of the very best restaurants are still affordable.

Q. What do diners say they are most looking for?

A. Value above all else right now. Value is really an equation of cost divided into the quality of what you get. It depends on both factors.

Food-wise, more than any other type of cuisine, people want Italian. Italian gets 27 percent of the vote, American 16, French and Japanese 11, Mexican 10, Chinese is 6 and Thai is about the same. We’re very eclectic, but Italian is the favorite food.

Q. What is a top trend you are seeing in American dining?

A.  I call it “BATH.” or “better alternative to home” restaurants. Diners are seeking little, inexpensive, homey, hearty restaurants. They are the casual places, whether Vietnamese or pizza, or hamburger places. There are all sorts of these and they are basically competing with your ability to shop, cook and clean for yourself. I think this is the largest segment in terms of growth in the U.S., other than fast food.

Q. What is the No. 1 dining-out grumble?

A.  Service, service, service and service. As long as we have been surveying, the principal complaint has been service; 58 percent of comments relate to service. Cumulatively, all the other problems only amount to 32 percent — parking, noise, food quality, cleanliness, everything else. Service is the weak link of the industry. There are virtually no schools for front-of-the-house personnel. I think the area that needs to be put through professionalization, like chefs get, is the front of the house. 

Wahoo's on the Island takes it up a notch

Gail Byrne, since August the new owner of Wahoo's on the Island Restaurant (145 107 Ave., Treasure Island, (727) 290-9856) contacted me a while ago to say that chef Karim Chiadmi of The Pearl is now overseeing the food. Very interesting. But now the plot thickens: She e-mailed me today to add that they are now converting half of the establishment into a piano bar. Intriguing. It's a casual beach spot with a pedigree in the historic Pirates Square shopping center, having been The Quarterdeck, Cadillac Jacks, Mr. B’s and Cabana’s American Grill at various times.

Careme's Market brings swoony prime rib takeout to Lutz

Careme’s Market, a new gourmet market featuring freshly prepared entrees, a full sandwich bar and deli, cheeses and wines celebrates its official grand opening next Saturday, Nov. 7 from noon to 5 p.m. The celebration will include tastings, live music, children’s activities and a drawing to win a trip to Las Vegas. The first 25 people in the store will receive a $10 store credit and all guests will have an opportunity to “spin to win” discounts from 10 to 50 percent off food items purchased that day.

That's good and all, but what I've been hearing about Careme's, which opened on Oct. 1, is that fancy-pants Avila residents have been swarming the place for the signature take-away smoked prime rib or a number of other snazzy entrees (heat-and-eat chicken parmesan, shrimp scampi, Korean ribs, Cuban picadillo) for dinner at home.

"The whole concept is restaurant-quality food you can take and enjoy in your home," said owner and president. 

The market, located at 16319 N. Florida Ave., is named for Marie-Antoine Careme, who lived from 1784 to 1833 and was an early practitioner of the high art of French cooking.

Kona Grill Tampa to open next week

I like their tagline: "East meets West. They party." Kona Grill will open a location at 4134 W. Boy Scout Blvd., Tampa, with a grand opening party on Nov. 8. As colleague Mark Albright recently described the chain: "Kona Grill, a 22-store casual dining chain with an Asian-influenced menu of American favorites, will open a 344-seat restaurant at MetWest International. The Scottsdale, Ariz., chain is the first retail tenant in the 32-acre mixed-use project across Boy Scout Boulevard from International Plaza in Tampa. With an average check of $24, Kona Grill offers sushi, steaks, seafood and a selection of 40 sauces served in a dining room featuring a 2,000-gallon saltwater aquarium."

International Plaza area is heating up these days--went to BRIO last night and they were doing a brisk business. It's an attractive space and the staff seems well trained thus far. I'll reserve judgement on the food until my next visit.

Jazz brunch on Sunday at Maggie's Tea Room

Doors open at 11 a.m., with jazz from the Jack Wilkins Trio from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. $19.95 includes meal, beverage (bring your own bottle if you want something boozy) and the jazz. Maggie's Tea Room, 10335 Cross Creek Blvd., Tampa. Call (813) 991-1212 for reservations.

The Ceviche Vampire Lounge

Ceviche Tapas Restaurants invite you to the “Ceviche Vampire Lounge,” Halloween’s most hedonistic costume party on Saturday at 9 p.m.  The event features live DJs, entertainment, along with drink specials and prize give-aways all night. Tickets start at $25 and guests are encouraged to dress up in the hopes of winning a trip for two to Miami’s Fontainebleau Resort. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Voices for Children. All three locations: Ceviche Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Tampa, St. Petersburg and Orlando.

A couple of sweet deals in St. Pete

Cafe Alma is offering its half-price tapas every day from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., and all night on Tuesdays. Also, they're having a Halloween bash on Saturday from 9 to close, 21 and up only, scary drink specials, DJ Mathu Bishop spinning.

Also, Bella Brava is currently offering 20 percent off their gift certificates. Not a bad stocking-stuffer idea, even if it is a little early for my mind to wander in that direction.

Gateway Organic Farm dinner

Nine Chefs, one vision – a true farm to table experience. Harvesting and preparing a six course dinner with wine in a greenhouse overlooking the garden, Gateway Organic Farms hosts its second annual dinner in the field on Nov. 22 at 3 p.m. Tyson Grant of Parkshore Grill;  Matt Tracy of St. Petersburg Yacht Club; Chris Knowles of Sea Sea Riders; Gui Alinat; Peter Leonavicius of Toasted Pheasant; Cathleen Ryan, pastry chef /Gateway Farm Chef/Consultant; Bobby Mayo of SideBerns; and two guest chefs return to make this a unique dining experience. The dinner will feature fresh organic vegetables, along with local and organic meat, sustainable fish, and fine wines. Featured sponsors include Johnson Brothers Wines and Bay Coffee and Tea.

"Please bring your favorite dinner plate to add to the conversation as you dine with local farmers,
artisans, and chefs." A pre-dinner reception includes hors d'oeuvres, wine, music, and a farm tour.
Proceeds from the event will benefit the farm’s Ed-U-kitchen,  an outdoor educational classroom/kitchen emphasizing the benefits of eating local, seasonal, and organic foods. Gateway Organic Farm, 6000 150th Ave. N., Clearwater, $150 per person or $250 per couple (vegetarian option available ),  727-244-0724 or 727-492-0010. 

Shackleton's whisky being retrieved

How cool is this GlobalPost story I just read?

This spit of black volcanic rock that juts out along the coast of Antarctica is an inhospitable place. Temperatures drop below –50 Fahrenheit and high winds cause blinding snowstorms. The only neighbors are a colony of penguins that squawk incessantly and leave a pungent scent in their wake.

But if you happen upon the small wooden hut that sits at Cape Royds and wriggled yourself underneath, you'd find a surprise stashed in the foot and a half of space beneath the floorboards. Tucked in the shadows and frozen to the ground are two cases of Scotch whisky left behind 100 years ago by Sir Ernest Shackleton after a failed attempt at the South Pole.

Conservators discovered the wooden cases in January 2006. They were unable to dislodge the crates, but are going in with special tools in January during the Antarctic summer to try to retrieve them. An international treaty dictates that the crates, and any intact bottles that are inside, remain in Antarctica unless they need to be taken off the continent for conservation reasons. The whisky's condition after a century of freezing and thawing is unknown. Read rest of story here.

Speaking of Shackleton, I've been hearing a lot of rumblings about our very own ode to that early explorer, Shackleton's Folly. I hope things work themselves out over there, because that part of St. Pete could sure use a comfy hangout.

Spooky Halloween happenings

On Saturday, B-21 will host adult trick-or-treating from 4 to 6 p.m. Those over 21 may come to B-21 Fine Wine & Spirits (43380 US Highway 19 just north of the Anclote River in Tarpon Springs) dressed in a full Halloween costume, spend a minimum of $10 and pick a FREE item out B-21’s Witches Brew (includes mini-sized spirits, accessories and more).  Free “spirits” tastings will also be held throughout the day on Halloween.  
 
On Friday night, head to Toasted Pheasant (14445 N. Dale Mabry Hwy., Tampa) for a 3-course dinner with live music for $19.95. Appetizers include items such as butternut squash bisque, Caesar salad, Cajun crabcakes and garlic-steamed mussels; entrees like a 6 oz. N.Y. strip with a portobello sauce, chicken Tuscany with melted mozzarella, roasted duck stuffed with herbs and nuts, salmon piccata in a lemon caper butter sauce or eggplant parmesan; for dessert caramel apple tart and Grand Marnier chocolate mousse.

Thursday night, visit That's Amore Ristorante (700 Harbour Post Dr., Harbor Island, (813) 221-9889) for a spooktacular festino, with everyone dressed in their ghoulish best. Start with Elvira's Caesar salad, then Dracula's chicken parm served with spaghetti for $14.95 per person.

And things get crazy at Backwaters (1261 Gulf Blvd., Clearwater, 727/517-7383) on Saturday night during happy hour from 5:30 to 7 p.m., when customers in costumes compete for prizes and awards for the funny, scary, pretty or outrageous masquerades of the evening. First, second and third prizes awarded.